Summary
A total of 9 hepatitis E epidemics have been documented in China since 1982. Five of them were waterborne and four foodborne, and they occurred in 6 of 30 provinces or autonomous regions in the country. The disease most frequently affects young adults, with fewer cases in children and the elderly. A relative male excess of cases has been observed. However, the fatality rate in female patients with hepatitis E is significantly higher than in males. The disease has a distinctive autumn seasonality in endemic areas. A peak of fecal excretion of hepatitis E virus is found at the late incubation period and early acute phase. The incubation period of the disease ranges from 15 to 75 days, with a mean of 36 days. A randomized double-blind and controlled study showed that human immune serum globulin had no prophylactic effects on hepatitis E.
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Zhuang, H., Cao, XY., Liu, CB. et al. Epidemiology of hepatitis E in China. Gastroenterol Jpn 26 (Suppl 3), 135–138 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02779283
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02779283