CONTEXT: Viral hepatitis is a disease of compulsory notification and is very important due to its high prevalence. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological profiles of hepatitis B and C, reported through surveillance at the "Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual", São Paulo, SP, Brazil, from January 2004 to April 2007. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study revealed 112 confirmed cases of hepatitis B and 651 of hepatitis C. Male gender predominated among hepatitis B while female gender predominated among hepatitis C, statistically significant. Hepatitis B occurred mainly among patients from 30 to 39 years old (P<0.01), and hepatitis C was more frequent among patients from 40 to 49 years old (P = 0.49). Asthenia was the most frequent symptom. The main risk factors were: sexually transmitted diseases (hepatitis B; P<0.01), previous surgery and blood transfusion (hepatitis C; P<0,01). Cases were mostly confirmed through laboratory tests. Chronic hepatitis occurred in 54.5% and 81.7% cases of hepatitis B and C, respectively (P<0,01). Virus B was mostly transmitted by sexual contact (P<0,01); virus C was transmitted mainly by blood transfusion (P<0,01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings were similar to national and international data available. Epidemiologic surveillance plays an important role in determining the viral hepatitis profile in order to provide adequate screening and prevention.
Hepatitis B, epidemiology; Hepatitis C, epidemiology; Epidemiologic surveillance; Disease notification
