title: Age-specific prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody in Ethiopian children.
abstract: Three groups of individuals in Ethiopia, with different socioeconomic status, were studied demographically and serologically to determine the age-specific prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). A total of 959 subjects, 89% of whom were children under 15 years of age, were tested for anti-HAV by radioimmunoassay. Evidence of infection started early, found in 50% of the population before 5 years of age, increased rapidly with age and became universal after 15 years of age. A comparison of anti-HAV prevalences between 2 socioeconomic groups (children of health professionals versus children of lower income group) revealed a significant difference (p less than 0.01). These data show that HAV infection in Ethiopia is widespread and that environmental and socioeconomic factors play a major role in its transmission. The widespread prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs also suggest that non-A, non-B virus(es) may be a major cause of the commonly observed sporadic cases of acute viral hepatitis in adult Ethiopians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Black Lion Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsega
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nordenfelt
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mengesha
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsega
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012923:Social Class
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies