[Epidemiological characteristics and the importance of carriers of the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBsAg)].

The occurrence of HBsAg carriership in Leningrad has been found to be 1.4% according to the results of countercurrent immunoelectroosmophoresis (CIEO) and 2.1% according to the results of the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test. In children HBsAg occurs with higher frequency: 1.9% according to the results of CIEO and 3.4% according to the results of the PHA test. The latter test reveals HBsAg carriers more completely, especially in women who have usually less pronounced antigenemia than men. Most of chronic HBsAg carriers are patients with chronic forms of hepatitis B (chronic active hepatitis and chronic persistent hepatitis); frequently they become the source of infection among their relatives under the conditions of family contacts. A complex of antiepidemic measures is necessary in the foci of chronic HBsAg carriership.