Clinical acute viral hepatitis encountered by Belgian general practitioners

Objectives: To study the incidence of acute viral hepatitis (A, B, or C) in Belgium, manifested clinically by patients who consult a general practitioner.Methods: During 2 successive years (1991 and 1992), 187 sentinel general practitioners registered all patients for whom a clinical suspicion existed of acute viral hepatitis.In addition to epidemiologic data, blood samples were taken at the time of registration and 3 and 9 months later.Results: There were 209 patients registered.Incidence per 100,000 inhabitants was estimated at 23 for hepatitis A, 6 for hepatitis B, and 3 for hepatitis C.Conclusions: The incidence of clinical acute viral hepatitis (A, B, and C) was dramatically lower in 1991-92 than in the period 1982-84.The average age of patients with hepatitis A rose significantly.