title: Epidemiological aspects of acute viral hepatitis in drug abusers.
abstract: The epidemiological features of acute symptomatic viral hepatitis were examined in 151 consecutive, hospitalized drug abusers. Hepatitis B was diagnosed in 101 patients (66.8%), hepatitis A in 13 (8.6%) and non-A, non-B hepatitis in 35 (23.1%). Non-A, non-B hepatitis was significantly more prevalent among drug abusers than in an age-matched control population of non-drug abusers. Moreover, the mean duration of parenteral drug abuse was significantly lower among non-A, non-B cases than in patients with hepatitis A or B. These results suggest a wide circulation of both hepatitis B virus and non-A, non-B agent(s) among drug abusers in our area. These patients most likely represent a main reservoir of non-A, non-B infection due to the high rate of chronicity reported for non-A, non-B hepatitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*