title: Viral hepatitis in Bucharest.
abstract: A seroprevalence survey of viral hepatitis was conducted in Bucharest, Romania, between April and July 1990 on a systematic sample of 1355 persons drawn from the general population and groups at higher risk of infection. Sera were tested for hepatitis A, B, and C (HAV, HBV and HCV, resp.) markers using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The prevalences of HAV and HBV markers were high in all groups. A total of 47% of the adults from the general population and 39.8% of the children aged 0-16 years had at least one HBV marker. Of the pregnant women 7.8% were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Among infants (0-3 years of age) living in orphanages, the prevalence of at least one HBV marker was 54.6%. The findings also confirmed that HCV was circulating in Romania. The results are consistent with national surveillance data and confirm that viral hepatitis is a major public health problem in Romania. Preventive measures will have to include HBV immunization of infants, with an appropriately targeted immunization strategy being determined through further epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Stefan Nicolau Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paquet
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Babes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sénémaud
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrescu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014504:Urban Health