Impact of hepatitis A in Siena: a "traveller's disease"?
Over a period of seven years (from 1980 to 1987) 58 acute viral hepatitis A cases were admitted to the Departments for Infectious Diseases. This number represents 10.76% of all viral hepatitis patients. Most of the patients had travelled to foreign countries or to areas in Italy with high hepatitis A virus (HAV) circulation. An assessment of specific immunization against HAV in normal healthy people aged 1-60, performed by ELISA, showed a very low number of sero-positive subjects. The disappearance of HAV in Italy, which is similar to other western European countries, is probably due to the improved socio-economical conditions; the "imported cases" seem to have little impact on public health.
Braito
A
A
Istituto di Malattie Infettive, Università di Siena, Italy.
Cellesi
C
C
Fanti
O
O
Civitelli
F
F
Fanetti
G
G
Almi
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014195:Travel