title: A high degree of exposure to hepatitis A virus infection in urban children in Cameroon.
abstract: In January 1989, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was determined by ELISA in 702 apparently healthy children 5-14 years old in Kumba City, Cameroon. Children were recruited from those attending six different primary schools, representative of the socio-demographic characteristics of the inhabitants, using a systematic random sampling. The overall IgG anti-HAV prevalence was 96.9%, reaching 100% by the age of 11 years. In primary school beginners the prevalence was very high, 94.0%, contrary to what has been observed in developed countries. The anti-HAV prevalence was not associated with family size, but was related to parent's occupation, children from the lower class having a 5.9 fold risk (C.I. = 1.9-18.3) of past exposure to HAV. These results suggest a persistently high prevalence of anti-HAV in children despite improving hygienic conditions. The spread of HAV in this population may be the result of domestic water and/or food contamination.
authors.affiliation: National Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiaramonte
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngatchu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapicetta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarrecchia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chionne
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lantum
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naccarato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G