[Characteristics of the course and outcome of viral hepatitis A in patients treated at home].

As many as 40 adult patients aged 15 to 40 years with virus hepatitis A treated at home were followed up since October 1987 to March 1988 in 6 districts of Moscow. There were 23 women and 17 men. The control group comprised 101 adult patients (46 women and 51 men) admitted to the Clinical Infectious Hospital No. 1. The diagnosis of virus hepatitis A was made on the basis of the clinico-epidemiologic and biochemical data, supported by detection of specific IgM antibodies to virus hepatitis A. Staying in bed, sparing diet and abundant drinking were indicated to all the patients. The patients who reported for work were followed up for 6 months. The mean duration of disability constituted 34.1 +/- 1.69 days, if the patients were treated at home and 38.6 +/- 1.26 days, provided they received hospital treatment. The number of lingering cases was 4 (10%) during the treatment at home and 11 (10.9%) at hospital treatment. The data obtained attest to the possibility of treating adult patients with virus hepatitis A at home.