RESUMEN
Eight cases of hepatitis E acquired in the UK are reported. These cases presented to an inner city hospital in Birmingham, UK, over a 5-month period in 2005. HEV is considered unusual in the UK and generally occurs after travel to endemic regions. Only five cases of hepatitis E acquired in the UK have been reported in the literature. This series represents an increase in the local incidence of hepatitis E, particularly that of UK-acquired infection. HEV should be considered in all patients with acute hepatitis, irrespective of travel history.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/epidemiología , Anticuerpos Antihepatitis/sangre , Virus de la Hepatitis E/inmunología , Hepatitis E/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes/virología , Femenino , Hepatitis E/virología , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina M/sangre , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Reino Unido/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Recent statistics suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is prescribed by only a small number of general practitioners (GPs), despite its use being widely discussed and advocated in the literature. In March 1997, we sent a questionnaire to 200 randomly selected practices in the south Birmingham area to try to find the reason. Eighty-one (40.5%) completed questionnaires were returned from 57 (70%) male and 24 (30%) female GPs respectively. Seventy (86.4%) claimed they actively prescribed HRT as a prophylaxis for osteoporosis; 76% felt doctors were well informed about the risks and benefits of HRT. However, male and female GP opinions differed as to the most effective duration of HRT use. Comparison of the ethnic backgrounds of male prescribers and non-prescribers revealed significant differences, and the ethnic group predominating in the catchment areas of prescribers and non-prescribers was also different.