Hepatitis with Australia Antigen after Tattooing

Abstract

Four out of 5 Swedish naval recruits fell ill with overt serum hepatitis 9–11 weeks after having been tattooed immediately after each other by a London tattooer. Test for Australia antigen was carried out after 4 weeks of illness and later. Australia antigen was demonstrated in one patient This man was the only one who had a long-lasting hepatitis. His serum transaminases were still slightly abnormal 1 year after onset of illness. The fifth recruit showed no laboratory evidence of serum hepatitis during an observation period of more than 6 months but he had at the same time as the 4 others some lassitude and slight muscle pain. The rising frequency of serum hepatitis reported from different European countries will probably also increase the risk of contracting the illness after tattooing.