Anicteric virus hepatitis in a closed environment as shown by serum transaminase activity

Although it has long been recognized that cases of virus hepatitis without jaundice outnumber those with jaundice, particularly among children, only recently-with the introduction of tests to determine the activity of serum transaminases-has it become possible to assess with any accuracy the real frequency of the anicteric forms. In the present paper, the authors report on an investigation in an institution for children in Rome. Some 1000 serum enzyme determinations were made on 104 children and 11 adults; detailed results are given. It was found that among the children anicteric hepatitis predominated over icteric hepatitis in a ratio of 30: 1 and that the total frequency of virus hepatitis of both forms was strikingly high. The clinical and epidemiological implications of these and associated findings are discussed.