[An explosive familial epidemic of viral hepatitis B with a horizontal transmission].

The authors describe the course of an explosive epidemic of viral hepatitis B (VHB) where all members of a seven-member family contracted the disease. The probable source of infection was an infant with a history of anicteric VHB with transition into chronicity and with HBs and HBe antigenaemia. Four members of the family contracted the disease between the 126th and 172nd day after his return from hospital to the family and another two members of the family contracted the disease three months later. Generally accepted risk factors for transmission of VHB could be ruled out. Saliva is suspected as a transfer factor of the disease. Five children had the anicteric form of VHB with an atypical but protracted course, in two with probable development of a chronic character of the disease. Adult patients had the icteric form of the disease. All cases were diagnosed by biochemical examination and confirmed by a positive finding of HBsAg and/or a positive finding of anti HBs antibodies.