title: An outbreak of hepatitis A in an institution for the mentally retarded.
abstract: From December 1977 until April 1978 a hepatitis A outbreak occurred in an institution for the mentally retarded. The institution housed 311 residents and had a staff of 308. The outbreak was studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for hepatitis A antigen and antibodies, and by liver function tests in serum. When the investigations started, 13 residents and one staff member were ill and already seropositive; 34 of the 182 residents that were seronegative at that time and 12 of the 223 seronegative staff members subsequently developed disease. Out of the 60 cases 32 were asymptomatic; 19 cases with jaundice were seen. Normal human immunoglobulin was administered to a large part of the seronegative group, but the effect is difficult to interpret as the immunoglobulin was often given after the presumed time of infection and failed to protect. Elevated liver enzyme levels were demonstrated in 38 of 60 patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral