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Waterborne non-A, non-B hepatitis
V Ramalingaswami1, R H Purcell
1Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Lancet (London, England)
|March 12, 1988
Summary
Waterborne non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) outbreaks primarily affect young adults. Pregnant women face severe risks, including fatal liver failure, highlighting the need for clean water and hygiene for hepatitis prevention.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Waterborne non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) causes outbreaks, particularly in young adults.
- The illness is generally mild, but pregnant women have a high mortality rate due to fulminant hepatic failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of waterborne non-A, non-B hepatitis.
- To highlight the severity in pregnant women and geographical distribution.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis relies on epidemiological links to contaminated water and excluding hepatitis A and B.
- Liver biopsy shows characteristic histological features.
- Detection involves identifying virus-like particles in stool aggregated by patient antibodies.
Main Results:
- NANB is prevalent in South-East Asia and India, with emerging recognition in Africa and Latin America.
- Outbreaks show a predilection for young adults.
- Fulminant hepatic failure and high case-fatality rates are observed in pregnant women.
Conclusions:
- Control strategies include improving water supplies, sanitation, and personal/food hygiene.
- Passive immunization with immunoglobulin may offer protection to vulnerable populations.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing NANB outbreaks.