A survey and follow-up study of anicteric hepatitis, other asymptomatic liver diseases and hepatitis B surface antigen carriers

To study the prevalence of anicteric hepatitis, serum transaminase determination and hepatitis B antigen detection by the immunodiffusion method were used as screening tests for 4,778 students of National Taiwan University. This study indicates that most hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers have viral hepatitis, or have had it and the illness is usually mild or subclinical. The carriers tend to retain HBsAg indefinitely. Some people are healthy carriers of HBsAg. As a screening test for anicteric hepatitis, the results of detection of HBsAg and the determination of serum transaminase do not correlate and it is better to apply these tests simultaneously in survey. There are a surprisingly large number of anicteric hepatitis cases in Taiwan. Anicteric hepatitis may progress to chronic hepatitis but no cirrhosis developed during 18 months' observation.