Type A Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

IN recent years, our understanding of the nature and diversity of viruses causing hepatitis in human beings has been sharply increased.¹ Those agents now include the viruses of hepatitis A (classic short-incubation infectious hepatitis) and hepatitis B (long-incubation serum hepatitis), one or more still-undefined viruses responsible for "non-A,non-B hepatitis," and the recently recognized delta virus. Among these types of hepatitis, each of which occurs commonly within the United States, hepatitis A is uniquely and primarily transmitted by the fecal—oral route and thus possesses an unequaled potential for epidemic spread. Although it is relatively benign and never eventuates in chronic hepatitis, . . .