HEPATITIS IN A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: THE DETECTION OF SUBCLINICAL INFECTION.

To detect the extent of subclinical infection during an outbreak of infectious hepatitis in a low-cost, high-density housing development, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels were measured in 390 of the 1650 residents.Elevated SGOT values were found in 17.4% of those tested. Abnormal levels were more common in young children, occurring in 24.7% of those under 5 years of age and in 24.1% of those from 5 to 9 years of age.It was concluded that subclinical infection was widespread in the development, children under 10 years of age forming the principal reservoir. The concentration of many small children with poor personal hygiene favoured the spread of the infection.More extensive play areas and other facilities appropriate for large families, improved hygiene, dispersal of high-density housing units, and widespread use of gamma globulin in the event of an out-break are suggested as control measures.