Age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A infection among children visited in pediatric hospitals of Tehran, Iran (original) (raw)

Shifting epidemiology of hepatitis a infection and vaccination status of children aged 6 months-12 years: time for mass vaccination

Iranian journal of pediatrics, 2013

This study was designed to determine the current age-related hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalance, vaccination status of children and to evaluate the epidemiological shift in HAV serostatus living in Tekirdağ, which is located in Thrace region, the European part of Turkey. Children 6 months-12 years of age with simple health problems were included. Blood samples were studied for HAV IgM and IgG collectively. A questionnaire addressing several characteristics of subjects was administered to obtain basic descriptive data on HAV epidemiology. Vaccination status of the children was recorded according to the immunization cards. The overall anti-HAV IgM and anti-HAV IgG prevalance in children aged 6 months - 12 years was 3.3% and 25.4% respectively. Maximum hepatitis A IgM positivity was in the 7-12 years age group 4.8% (n= 12; P<0.001) and maximum hepatitis A IgG positivity in the same age group was 34% (n = 85; P<0.001). HAV vaccination rate among patients aged more than 2 years...

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus in children of different age groups in Tehran, Iran: Implications for health policy

Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 2010

Background: Hepatitis A is one of the most frequently reported vaccinepreventable diseases throughout the world and remains endemic in many areas. Studies in various communities have shown that Hepatitis A virus (HAV) prevalence rises with age. The current data regarding hepatitis A epidemiology in Iran is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the seroepidemiology of hepatitis A in children of different age groups in Tehran, Iran. Methods: Plasma samples of 1065 children between ages of 6 months and 20 years were tested for the presence of total anti-HAV.

Evaluation of the Seroprevalence of Hepatit A and Vaccination Status in Children Aged Two and Sixteen Years

Viral Hepatitis Journal, 2017

Objective: In this study; the aim was to evaluate the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in 2-16 year age group, and the rate of hepatitis A vaccination. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 400 children aged between 2 and 16 years with no chronic diseases who attended the pediatrics outpatient clinic in Health Sciences University, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital. After obtaining informed consent from the parents, blood samples were taken for investigating serological markers for hepatitis A in the microbiology laboratory using the ELISA method. The parents were asked whether or not their children had been vaccinated against hepatitis A. Results: In this study 44.3% of the participants included were girls and 55.8% were boys. The mean age of the children was 10.8±4.18 years. 27.3% of patients were anti-HAV IgG-positive, and 11% had been vaccinated against hepatitis A. When we compared preschool and school age patients, anti-HAV IgG positivity was detected in all children who were vaccinated in the preschool group; while 5.9% of unvaccinated children were anti-HAV IgG-positive and 94.1% were negative. It was found that school age children were unvaccinated, and anti-HAV IgG was positive in 19.6% of the children and negative in 80.4% of the children. Conclusion: In our study, although the prevalence of hepatitis A was found to be low compared to the eastern and southeastern cities of our country, it is still higher than in the developed countries. In order to prevent hepatitis A infection, it is necessary to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the country, to create better sanitary conditions and hygienic practices, and raise awareness of the infection.

A study of hepatitis A virus seropositivity among children aged between 1 and 5 years of age: Implications for universal immunization

Medical Journal Armed Forces India, 2019

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) causes an enterically transmitted viral disease mainly affecting children and endemic in many developing countries, including India. There is an epidemiological shift with an increased incidence of symptomatic cases among children. This study was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of HAV among young children aged below 5 years and the need for universal immunization. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary care hospitals in Northern India, from Apr 2014 to Jul 2015, among healthy children aged between 1 and 5 years. The sample size was calculated based on the prevalence of HAV seropositivity of 40% among children aged <10 years [16e60%] and alpha error of 5%. Analysis of serum IgG against HAV was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, and results were analyzed. Results: A total of 1084 children aged between 12 and 60 months were enrolled, with maleto-female ratio of 1.86:1. A total of 471 children (43.5%) were found to be positive for IgG against HAV. The seroprevalence of HAV was lower among younger children aged 12e23 months (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] ¼ 0.52e0.87, p ¼ 0.03), which was statistically significant. Seropositivity of HAV was lower among boys and families consuming safe drinking water and having improved sanitation facilities. Conclusion: The study observed lower seropositivity against HAV among younger children, making them susceptible of contracting the disease. Possible underlying risk factors were younger age, unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and low education status of parents. Therefore, vaccination may be recommended as optional vaccine at one year of age, along with improved public health efforts for safe drinking water, hygiene practices, and food safety.

AGE-SPECIFIC SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS A AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN CENTRAL TUNISIA

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has different epidemiologic and clinical patterns, depending on the level of endemicity in a given geographic area. Tunisia is considered a region of high endemicity for hepatitis. Improvement of socioeconomic conditions in this country has made a determination of the seroprevalence of this disease advisable. We assessed the seroprevalence of HAV in Sousse in central Tunisia. A total of 2,400 school children 5-20 years of age (mean ± SD age ‫ס‬ 11.7 ± 3.5 years) were selected by two-stage cluster sampling and tested serologically for IgG antibody to HAV by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seroprevalence among this population was 60% (44%, in children < 10 years old, 58% in those 10-15 years of age, and 83% in those > 15 years of age. Seroprevalence also varied according to area of residence. At the age of 10, 21.3% of school children living in the urban areas and 87.7% of those living in rural areas had antibodies to HAV. Other factors that increased seroprevalence included non-potable water, crowding, and a low education level of parents with odds ratios of 4.37, 2.96, and 2.62, respectively. This study has shown an increase of seroprevalence with age, suggesting that transmission among younger children has decreased, particularly in urban areas. Programs to prevent hepatitis A may need to be modified based upon the changing age distribution of the disease and mass vaccination program could be indicated if additional incidence and prevalence data confirm the intermediate endemicity of HAV.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A in children and adolescents

Jornal de pediatria, 2011

OBJECTIVES To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A (HAV) in children and adolescents aged 1 to 14 years, and to identify factors associated with a history of infection. METHODS This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study, conducted form February to August 2006 in the city of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, and the surrounding municipalities (Greater Curitiba). Laboratory analysis comprised qualitative assay for total HAV antibodies in whole blood samples. RESULTS A total of 901 children and adolescents were recruited for the study. Age distribution was as follows: 1 to 4 years, n = 237 (26.3%); 5 to 9 years, n = 313 (34.7%); and 10 to 14 years, n = 351 (39%). The global rate of seroprevalence was 19.8%, and seroprevalence rates by age group were 3%, 21.1% and 29.9% respectively (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the following factors, in combination, had a positive association with the prevalence rate of antibodies against HAV in the study population: age g...

Seroprevalence of hepatitis-A virus among children aged 1-16 years in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey

African Journal of Microbiology Research, 2011

This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A among children aged 1-16 years in eastern region of Turkey. The study was conducted at Tunceli State Hospital in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were evaluated among 351 patients admitted to our pediatric policlinic. Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HAV IgG serologic markers were determined using the ELISA method. The mean age of 351 pediatric patients was 7.5±4.2; of these, 198 (56.4%) were male and 153 (43.6%) were female. A total of 305 (86.9%) cases in this study were seronegative against hepatitis A. Anti-HAV IgG was positive among 46 (13.1%) patients, of these 22 (47.8%) were male and 24 (52.2%) were female. The mean age of seropositive cases was 8.4±4.8. Anti-HAV IgM seropositivity was not detected in the study. The application of a routine hepatitis A vaccine among children will reduce the potential for the development of severe complications.