Infective Hepatitis

This disease is also known as ' epidemic Patarrhal jaundice', 'acute infective hepatitis' ari(l ' epidemic infective hepatitis.' During this war, great interest lias been sho-tyn in this disease by the medical profession owing 'to various problems presented which had J? be solved quickly. It broke out in epidemic *orm among the Middle East forces, affecting n?t only the Allies but the enemy as well; and j*long with malaria and venereal disease it has become one of the most important diseases in |hat theatre of war. Its high incidence, the 0llg stay in hospital, and the absence of any Method of prevention make it a serious Problem. . In Ceylon, jaundice, usually called catarrhal ?jaundice, has existed in sporadic form_ and has oeen considered a mild disease. Its incidence nUiong individuals, groups, or bigger communities was not high. The accepted pathology of a transient catarrhal condition of the bile passages and duodenum did not worry anybody seriously. Among Ceylonese service men, our statistics show that it was not until 1943 that the disease appeared to any appreciable extent. Most of the cases in this series have been from Colombo, Jaffna and Trincomalee, three important towns in Ceylon. It would be interesting to know the incidence and distribution of this disease among the civil population during 1943 and 1944. As a serious view is now taken of this condition, the health authorities should consider the possibility of outbreaks among school children, labour gangs and colonists settled in newly reclaimed areas. In the case of children, especially, it should be remembered that among Egyptian school children some cases of cirrhosis of the liver are found