Hepatitis B (surface) antigen and viral hepatitis in family contacts of acute hepatitis B patients.

The results of a follow up study among family contacts of acute hepatitis B patients are reported. The family members were tested for HBsAg in the time of hospitalization of the index case and after three months again, the families were kept under epidemiological surveillance for six months. 19 (4,54%) out of the 418 persons screened for the first time were HBsAg-positive. The highest prevalence of HBsAg-positive persons was found in the families of patients without history of parenteral exposure. 5 (1%) of family contacts were hospitalized from 2 to 4 months following admission of the index case. All were the spouses of index case patients and none of them had other history of parenteral exposures than blood sampling for purpose of this study. 2 (0,58%) cases of silent antigenaemia were found among the 344 persons examined at the second screening.