Viral hepatitis: problems of incidence and control in military personnel

(A) Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is now the major cause of infectious viral hepatitis in U.S. military personnel and probably also in the civilian population over 15 years of age. (B) The incidence of icteric, viral hepatitis is much higher in U.S. military personnel than in comparable age groups in the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Yale journal of biology & medicine 1976-07, Vol.49 (3), p.259-266
Main Author: Sabin, A B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Antibodies, Viral
Antigens, Viral
Female
Germany, West
Hepatitis B - epidemiology
Hepatitis B - prevention & control
Hepatitis B Antibodies
Hepatitis B Antigens
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B virus - immunology
Humans
Male
Military Medicine
United States
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Summary:(A) Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is now the major cause of infectious viral hepatitis in U.S. military personnel and probably also in the civilian population over 15 years of age. (B) The incidence of icteric, viral hepatitis is much higher in U.S. military personnel than in comparable age groups in the civilian population. The 17-to 20-year-old enlisted men show the highest rates. (C) In parts of the world (e.g., U.S.A., Germany) where most of the inapparent infection is caused by the adw subtype of HBV, most of the acute clinical disease is caused by the ayw subtype. In the U.S.A. and Germany, 95% or more of HB(s) Ag isolates from U.S. military personnel with acute hepatitis is ayw. (D) It may be many years before one can expect to have sufficient data for a decision as to the possible availability of an effective HBV vaccine. Accordingly, a decision is urgently needed regarding either the immediate use of the best practically available hepatitis immune gamma globulin, that can be prepared by modern techniques, for the prevention of hepatitis in U.S. military personnel or postponement of such use until an adequate and properly controlled trial can be carried out in active duty military personnel in an area of high incidence.
ISSN:0044-0086
1551-4056