Markers of hepatitis B in a group of Vietnamese boat-refugees in the Netherlands.
The first 541 Vietnamese boat-refugees who arrived in the Netherlands were examined for markers of hepatitis B. Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBs-ag) was present in 16.6% of the group (19.4% in males and 13.5% in females). This difference was significant in the 0-19 year age-group (P less than 0.05). 45.8% of the refugees demonstrated antibody against the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). In about 30% of the group the markers HBs-ag, anti-HBs and antibody against the core-antigen (anti-HBc) were absent. Females were without these markers of a past infection more often than males (35 against 24%; P less than 0.001). In the age-group 20-29 years these markers were absent in one out of every eight men and in one out of every four women (P less than 0.01). 27% of the group was positive for HBs-ag and or anti-HBc, making them potentially infectious (male 32.9% and female 20.1%; P less than 0.001). Among the HBs-ag-positives the e-antigen could be demonstrated in 58%. Newborns in this group are considered to be candidates for vaccination with the hepatitis-B vaccine.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens