title: The changed epidemiology of hepatitis A infection in Scandinavia.
abstract: The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was studied in a Swedish city population. A great difference was observed in different age groups. Anti-HAV was not found in the serum of young individuals while the prevalence was high in older ages (87% in individuals 60 years or older). This pattern of hepatitis A exposure is quite different from that reported for instance from the Mediterranean area and may indicate a very low frequency of hepatitis A exposure in Scandinavia today. The high prevalence of anti-HAV in older Swedes possibly reflects hepatitis A exposure in childhood during World War I and II when hepatitis A was more common.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000906:Antibodies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013548:Sweden
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies