Acute viral hepatitis in Lebanon: evidence for an HAV‐like non‐A non‐B hepatitis

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Abstract
Ninety-three cases of acute viral hepatitis in adult Lebanese patients were followed up prospectively for a period ranging from 6 to 18 mo. These included 33 hepatitis A (HAV), 32 hepatitis B (HBV) and 21 non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) cases. The clinical and seroepidemiologic characteristics of the 3 types were evaluated. HAV was characterized by a short prodroma (< 1 wk) and a high IgM level. HBV did not differ from similar cases reported in the Western world except for a complete absence of male homosexuals and drug addicts as a possible route of transmission. NANB hepatitis in Lebanon is mainly a sporadic infection similar to HAV except that the prodromal phase is prolonged (> 14 days) and IgM levels are within normal limits. The failure to develop chronicity in NANB suggests that the virus of sporadic NANB may be different from that which causes post-transfusional NANB.