title: Hepatitis B virus infection in infants and toddlers in Nigeria: the need for early intervention.
abstract: One or more serologic markers of hepatitis B were detected in serum samples from 29 of 61 (48%) Nigerian children between ages 6 months and 2 years who were followed for three months. Eight (13%) had acute infections, nine (15%) had chronic infections, and 12 (20%) had transplacentally acquired maternal antibody. Of 17 with active hepatitis B, 13 had been infected prior to the first serum sample (76% of infections) and four were infected during the three months of this study (24% of infections). These data indicate that effective intervention at an early age would have prevented 24% of the HBV infections which occurred in these infants, and intervention soon after birth might have prevented all of the cases.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D009549:Nigeria; D014765:Viral Vaccines
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014765:Viral Vaccines