[Hepatitis E in tourists to India]

Hepatitis E (HE) is a serious problem in developing countries worldwide, affecting in epidemics or as sporadic cases millions of people. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the main cause of enterically transmitted acute viral hepatitis, especially in tropic and subtropic areas. We presented two patients, our citizens who traveled to India, and contracted HE. The source of infection was contaminated drinking water in both of them. The diagnosis of HE was confirmed by the finding of anti-HEV antibodies of class IgG and IgM (ELISA) in acute phase, and by dissappearing of IgM anti-HEV in convalescent period. Thus, these patients are the first documented cases of imported sporadic HE in Croatia.