Tourist hepatitis in the West of Scotland

During the 6-year period (1971-76) 971 patients were admitted with acute viral hepatitis to different infectious units in the West of Scotland. Of these, 30 (3%) patients had tourist hepatitis. The majority (80%) acquired the infection in the subcontinents of Africa and India or other tropical countries. The clinical spectrum of the illness in these patients ranged from mild to fulminant hepatitis. Fifteen patients were specifically asked about their immunisation history prior to their travel and none had immunoglobulin prophylaxis against hepatitis. Normal human immunoglobulin prevents clinical hepatitis A and should be given to all prospective travellers to Third World countries. In order to formulate a rational policy for prophylaxis, more data about the risk of contracting hepatitis in different countries is needed.