Hepatitis B Antigen and Antibody in a Rural Community
10.2185/jjrm.23.39
- VernacularTitle:長野県の農村住民における肝炎B抗原および抗体の分布
- Author:
Kimio Fujita
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
1974;23(1):39-41
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Preceding reports suggested many asymptomatic hepatitis B virus infection.To ascertain the conclusion sera from patients were studied for half a year.
Three acute hepatitis and 19 asymptomatic infection had occurred among hospitalized patients without apparent chance of exposion.Asymptomatic infection means antigenemia without subjective complaints and biochemical changes.One of them became an antigen carrier and others were transient positives.
The study revealed naturally occurred 9 apparent hepatitis and 26 infections without apparent liver involvement. Most of them were quite symptomless, however, some of them complained malaise, fever, diarrhea, exanthema, itching and/or arthralgia.They showed normal serum GOT value expect one personel and recovered completely.Only one case carried the antigen persistently.
These results support the view.There are frequent chances of the virus infection in this rural area. Most of them recover with no trouble.The rate of aproximately 20%who keep the antibody in the population can be now understood.The ratio of asymptomatic infection to apparent hepatitis may over 6 mals.Some of them become carrier of the antigen.Familial defect in allowance may result the clustering of the antigen carrier in a family.
