The highest risk factor for liver disease in adolescent drug abusers and other risk groups of young people is represented by sharing syringes and injection needles as well as by unsafe sexual intercourse - the two factors often leading to viral hepatitis infection - most frequently hepatitis C. Hepatitis B infection is not rare too. The authors present results of their study of chronic hepatitis B and C in adolescents and young adults - homosexual prostitutes - in the Czech Republic and they describe the risk factors associated with these infections.

        Key words: i.v. drug abuse, homosexual prostitutes, viral hepatitis B, viral hepatitis C