Abstract: Objective This research was designed to understand the epidemic trend of viral hepatitis and patterns of pathogenesis to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of effective preventive and therapeutic measures. Methods Statistical X2 test was employed to analyze the epidemic data of viral hepatitis and demographic data of Ping'all county from 1993 tO 2003．The epidemiological distribution characteristic of viral hepatitis was descdbed．Results Statistics showed that the mean incidence of viral hepatitis from 1993 to 2003 in Ping'an county was 154.18/lakh，ranging from 37.81/lakh to 378.56/lakh．Incidence of the disease was ranked as the first in 1999，as the third in 1993 and as the second in the remaining 9 years in the list of infec-tious diseases．The incidence was higher in cities and towns than in rural areas with no difference between male and female．It was showed that older children and young adults were predominantly affected by hepatitis B，with cases aged from 15～39 years accounting for 59.09％，while younger children and adolescents were mainly affected by hepatitis A，with cases of the disease aged from 5～19 years constituting 43.36％．Occupationally，peasants，students，cadres and clerks were the main groups involved．Conclusion Hepatitis B is the predominant type of viral hepatitis in Ping'an county and SO control of hepatitis B is the key to decreasing the incidence of viral hepati-tis．Inoculation of hepatitis B vaccines for newborns should be enforced and good management of blood products and safe injection should be taken seriously．