Hepatitis B seroprevalence among children in a Turkish hospital.
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods in 1316 patients from Onkoduz Mayis University Children's Hospital to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B in children from our region. The age range was from one month to 16 years. Seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs was 3.2 and 13.3%, and increased with age. None of the children had received hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B is an important health problem in our region, and all children should be vaccinated.
Cetinkaya
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Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Samsun, Turkey.
Gürses
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Oztürk
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F
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines