The epidemiological aspects of viral hepatitides in Estonia]

The etiological structure of viral hepatitides among the adult population of Tallinn and the occurrence of markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in medical workers, addict introducing drugs intravenously and hemodialysis patients were studied. Changes in the etiological structure of viral hepatitides were established: they took the form of a decrease in the level of hepatitis A morbidity and the considerable growth of the role of hepatitides B and C, as well as the newly detected circulation hepatitis D virus. About one-third in the structure of morbidity in viral hepatitides were hepatitis cases without markers of hepatitis A, B or C viruses (non-A, non-B, non-C). The highest rates of hepatitis B virus infection (78.9%) and hepatitis C virus infection (82.5%) were detected among drug addicts. Their level of HBsAg was 8.8%. In the group of medical workers, 25% of the examinees, i.e. every fourth person, had markers of hepatitis B virus, while antibodies to hepatitis C virus were detected in 5% of cases. Among hemodialysis patients these rates were 21.4% and 10.7% respectively.