An epidemic of acute viral hepatitis in male homosexuals. Etiology and clinical characteristics

Scand J Infect Dis. 1980;12(4):241-4. doi: 10.3109/inf.1980.12.issue-4.01.

Abstract

Among 130 male patients admitted during a 30-month period with acute hepatitis in the Copenhagen Clinic for Infectious Diseases, 31 were homosexuals. Hepatitis B virus occurred in an endemic fashion in the homosexual subpopulation while hepatitis A infection caused a small epidemic among homosexuals during the winter 1977-78. The course of these infections showed no serological or clinical differences from the findings in 38 heterosexual male patients seen during the same period.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / etiology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / transmission
  • Homosexuality*
  • Humans
  • Male