Hepatitis B in the non-residential mentally handicapped population.
This study describes seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis B in seven centres caring for non-residential mentally handicapped individuals. Overall, 11% were hepatitis B marker seropositive and 4% had the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Male sex and increasing age were associated with seropositive status, and Down's syndrome was associated with the presence of HBsAg. Immediate family members of those with hepatitis B markers were screened and 22% had evidence of hepatitis B markers. Forty-one family members were identified when the mentally handicapped individual was HBsAg positive and of these 13 (32%) were seropositive. This study demonstrates that hepatitis B is a problem for the non-residential mentally handicapped population and confirms the risk of infection to their immediate families.
Devlin
J B
JB
Eastern Health Board, Naas, Co. Kildare, Dublin, Ireland.
Mulcahy
M
M
Corcoran
R
R
Ramsay
L
L
Tyndall
P
P
Shattock
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D015415:Biomarkers; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens