ETIOLOGY OF VIRAL HEPATITIS IN AMERICAN SOLDIERS

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Abstract
To define better which types of hepatitis are prevalent among American soldiers, the authors studied 413 separate episodes of acute viral hepatitis among 412 soldiers admitted to US Army hospitals during 1978–1979. Most soldiers (68.8%) had acute hepatitis B (estimated annual hospitalization rate: 5.41/1000 soldiers in West Germany, 2.51/1000 In South Korea, p < 0.001). Non-A, non-B hepatitis accounted for 27% of cases in West Germany (2.16/1000), but only 3% In South Korea (0.11/1000); hepatitis A only 15% in South Korea (0.48/1000) and 1% in West Germany (0.08/1000). These findings indicate that hepatitis B is the most prevalent form of viral hepatitis among US soldiers worldwide but also suggest substantial differences in the epidemiology of this infection in South Korea and West Germany. Such data will be useful in developing hepatitis B immunization policy within the military.