Changing prevalence, clinical features, and outcome of acute hepatitis in Spain (1982–2003)
- 24 May 2006
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Vol. 21 (6) , 982-987
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1746.2006.04256.x
Abstract
Diagnostic and preventive measures have contributed to a change in the epidemiology of acute hepatitis. The purpose of the present paper was to assess the changing prevalence of acute hepatitis from 1982 to 2003. Trends in the epidemiology, clinical findings, and outcome of acute viral hepatitis from 1982 to 2003 were examined. A total of 548 episodes of acute hepatitis diagnosed between 1982 and 2003, the clinical course of which was monitored up to the year 2003, were included. Annual changes as well as for the intervals 1982-1992 and 1993-2003 were compared. Severe infections occurred in 1.3% of cases, with a mortality of 0.6%, with progression into chronicity in 25.1%. The annual incidences of acute hepatitis and the comparative intervals 1982-1992 and 1993-2003 showed a decline of parenterally -B, delta and C virus- transmitted infections, unchanged number of cases of acute hepatitis A, an increase in the number of cases of drug-induced hepatitis, increase in median ages, and a decrease in the proportion of hepatitis in injecting drug users. Ages of patients with hepatitis A tended to increase. A decline of parenterally transmitted acute hepatitis was documented throughout a 22-year period, while the number of cases of hepatitis A was unchanged and that of drug-induced hepatitis increased. Evaluation of the current targeted hepatitis A vaccination approach and adequate pharmacovigilance measures are required in the near future.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- The epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis C virus infection.Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 2003
- Case fatality rate of acute viral hepatitis in Italy: 1995–2000. An updateDigestive and Liver Disease, 2003
- Incidence and Risk Factors for Acute Hepatitis B in the United States, 1982–1998: Implications for Vaccination ProgramsThe Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2002
- Hepatitis A and B in children and adolescents – what can we learn from Puglia (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain)?Vaccine, 2000
- Acute hepatitis B infection in England and Wales: 1985–96Epidemiology and Infection, 1999
- Changing Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Infection in FinlandScandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1999
- Incidence of and risk factors for hepatitis A in Italy: public health indications from a 10-year surveillanceJournal of Hepatology, 1997
- Decrease in HDV endemicity in ItalyJournal of Hepatology, 1997
- Falling Incidence and Prevalence of Hepatitis a in Northern SpainScandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 1994