title: [Iatrogenic and environmentally induced diseases of the liver in old age: viral hepatitis in old age].
abstract: Elderly people rarely develop hepatitis A, because of their acquired immunity, but they are more exposed to hepatitis-B and -nonAnonB infections. The course of viral hepatitis is usually more severe and more prolonged, the mortality of fulminant hepatitis is higher, and the risk of developing chronic hepatitis B is increased. There exists an association between chronic hepatitis B virus infection, old age, and the incidence of hepatoma. Exposed elderly persons should be vaccinated against hepatitis B but it might be necessary to give them additional booster doses in order to achieve sufficient antibody production.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Iatrogene und umweltbedingte Erkrankungen der Leber im Alter: Virushepatitis im Alter.