Role of Various Types of Treatment in Infectious Hepatitis

The disease was first described by Hippocrates in 460-377 BC. Since then it has been reported upon by countless authors. Whenever there is a massive gathering of human population, as in wars, the disease is likely to occur in epidemic form. At other times, the disease shows itself by sporadic cases and occasional epidemics. Thus a remarkable epidemic of 35,000 cases occurred in Delhi in 1955. This followed floods and the diversion of a river so that the city water supply was heavily contaminated with sewage. Although the disease essentially follows a self-limited course, with a mortality of less than 0.5% and chronic symptoms less than 5% of the disease it is important from the military point of view because it reduces the man-power by rendering the patient ineffective for 6-14 weeks (including the sick leave).