title: Hepatitis A and B in the family unit. Nonparenteral transmission by asymptomatic children.
abstract: Investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis A among members of an adoption organization implicated recently arrived Vietnamese orphans as the source of infection. A serologic study disclosed a 27% prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen among Vietnamese orphans and a 23.1% (6 of 26) prevalence of hepatitis B antibody among American children of adopting families. Five of the six antibody-positive American children were in families with HBsAg-positive orphans. Thus,healthy orphans from high hepatitis incidence areas may transmit hepatitis B, as well as hepatitis A, in the family unit.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics / Q000635:transmission*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees; D014744:Vietnam
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens