title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus in two institutions caring for mentally handicapped adults.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus infection is common in institutions caring for the mentally handicapped. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus share routes of transmission but the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in this population is unknown. We have tested 101 patients from two institutions in South-East England caring for adults with mental handicap for the presence of hepatitis C antibody, hepatitis B core antibody, and if necessary hepatitis B surface antigen. None tested positive for hepatitis C antibody, but 43 had hepatitis B core antibody of whom 14 were chronic carriers positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Unlike hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus infection appears to be uncommon in UK institutions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary's University Hospital, Roehampton, London, England.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cramp
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Grundy
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Perinpanayagam
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Barnado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence