The epidemiology of acute non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis in a large county hospital was determined by reviewing all acute hepatitis serology profiles over a 26-month period. Acute NANB hepatitis was identified in 77 patients from their clinical history, negative serologic findings, and elevated hepatic enzyme levels. The age and sex distributions for hepatitis A, B, and NANB are in agreement with previous epidemiologic studies. However, the frequency of various risk factors for NANB obtained from this epidemiologic investigation vary from those previously reported. Information regarding risk factors was available for 69 of the 77 patients identified. A history of recent intravenous drug abuse (IVDA) was obtained in 45 patients (65.2%). In the 6 months prior to presentation, blood transfusion was documented in five patients (7.2%). Eighteen patients (26.1%) denied having had a previous transfusion or IVDA. In our population a history of transfusion is obtained less frequently from patients with acute NANB hepatitis than previously reported. IVDA is the predominant risk factor for acute NANB hepatitis.
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Craig et al. (1991) studied this question.