[Viral hepatitis. Insurance medicine observations]

The major cause of liver diseases world-wide are the infectious hepatitis A-E which are due for different viruses. Most of the cases are clinically asymptomatic and without jaundice with a high rate of cure. The diagnosis and the differentiation of the various clinical syndromes are based mainly on serological markers of the involved antigen-antibody-systems. For insurance purposes the chronic hepatitis B, C and D are of great importance. Where chronic persistent hepatitis has a nearly normal life expectancy, chronic active hepatitis which may develop into cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma has an increased mortality.