Korean J Hepatol > Volume 7(4); 2001 > Article
The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2001;7(4): 392-400.
원저 / 급성 A 형 간염의 군인에서의 다발생 ( Outbreak ) : 암상, 역학적 연구 ( Original Articles / An Outbreak of Hepatitis A in South Korean Military Personnel : A Clinical and Epidemiologic Study )
An Outbreak of Hepatitis A in South Korean Military Personnel : A Clinical and Epidemiologic Study
Sung Hee Han,Soong Hwan Lee,Byung Joo Roh,Seong Chun Shim,Seung Chul Cho,Joo Hyun Sohn,Dong Hoo Lee,Choon Suhk Kee
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University Institute of Digestive Diseases, Seoul, Korea
ABSTRACT
Background
/ Aims : Increasing the susceptibility of young populations to HAV infection could result in an outbreak in a high-risk group. The author investigated the characteristics of hepatitis A outbreaks among Korean military personnel to obtain the fundamental data for determining the necessity for selective HAV vaccination. Methods : A case was defined as a person who had an onset of an illness compatible with acute viral hepatitis A between 4 February and 6 April 1998. Results : A widespread outbreak of hepatitis A affected 102 military personnel. The epidemic curve indicated a common-source exposure in the initial stage. At the end of the first month of the initial onset, the occurrence was specific to the location of the military post. Investigation suggested that contamination most likely occurred prior to the local distribution of food. The mean age was 23 years. The overall attack rate was 91 cases per 10000 persons at risk. All cases were jaundiced. The most frequently reported symptoms included icteric sclerae, daek urine,anorexia, malaise and fatigue, nausea, fever,abdominal pain, headache, upper respiratory symptoms, vomiting, itching, diarrhea, light-colores stools, myalgia, arthralgia, and skinrash. The laboratory test showed the serum total bilirubin of 5.5 mg./dL, AST of 344 IU/L, and ALT of 868 IU/L(mean value). Conclusion : All patients were clinically apparently diseased with jaundice and were completely recovered. The outbreak was food borne common-source exposure. The changing epidemiology hepatitis A in Korea calls for the economic evaluation of costs and benefits for selective HAV vaccination in high risk adult groups including military personnel. (Korean J Hepatol 2001;7 :392- 400)
KeyWords: Hepatitis/Viral/Hepatitis A, Outbreaks, Military personnel, Epidemiology
TOOLS
METRICS Graph View
  • 2,339 View
  • 35 Download
Related articles

Editorial Office
The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver
Room A1210, 53 Mapo-daero(MapoTrapalace, Dowha-dong), Mapo-gu, Seoul, 04158, Korea
TEL: +82-2-703-0051   FAX: +82-2-703-0071    E-mail: kasl@kams.or.kr
Copyright © The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver.         
COUNTER
TODAY : 37
TOTAL : 1781661
Close layer