Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Antigenemia in an Institution for Mentally Retarded

Abstract

The epidemiology of hepatitis B antigenemia was studied in 615 mentally retarded patients and 468 members of the staff in an institution for the retarded in Finland. Hepatitis B antigen (HBAg), generally persistent through the 2 years of study, was found in 10% of Down's syndrome patients, in 2.5% of the other retarded, and in none of the members of the staff. Age at admission did not correlate with the presence of HBAg. The relative lack of HBAg carriers among young patients was attributed to the reorganization of the wards into small units. The distribution of HBAg carriers among the patients led to the conclusion, that asocial, restless behaviour among HBAg carriers was of greater importance in determining the likelihood of spread of HBAg than the presence or absence of the Down's syndrome genotype.