Viral hepatitis B, C and infectious mononucleosis: epidemiological similarities and differences

Abstract

Introduction. The presence of etiologically unencrypted diagnoses in the structure of viral hepatitis determines the relevance of searching for other pathogens involved in liver pathology formation. The role of Epstein-Barr virus in the development of hepatitis was described in the scientific literature, but official statistics do not allow to assess its contribution to liver damage along with hepatitis B and C viruses.The purpose– to identify common and distinctive epidemiological features of viral hepatitis B (HB), C (HC) and infectious mononucleosis (IM).Material and methods. A retrospective epidemiological analysis of these nosologies incidence was carried out according to official statistics in 2009-2018 in the Russian Federation.Results and discussion. The multidirectional trends in the long-term dynamics of the incidence of IM, acute and chronic HB and HC and the presence of strong direct correlation between the acute and chronic HB and HC incidence were established. Distinctive features include disparity in epidemic process intensity in different age groups (prevalence of morbidity in children aged 1–2 and 3–6 years with IM and persons older than 18 years – with viral hepatitis). It is common for IM and HB and HC to involve the majority of urban population in the epidemic process, as well as children under the age of 1 year. The described differences are due to the action of transmission mechanisms specific to each infection.Conclusion. The results obtained in this study may serve as a basis for further study of the interaction of EpsteinBarr virus with hepatitis B and C viruses.