title: Hepatitis B virus infection in Honolulu students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier and infection rates and HBV epidemiology in Honolulu students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Honolulu public elementary, intermediate, and high schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  A volunteer sample of 4936 students from 43 Honolulu schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  HBV carrier rate (presence of hepatitis B surface antigen) and infection rate (presence of either hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, or any combinations of these) by school grade, ethnicity, and place of birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three (1.68%) students were identified as HBV carriers, and a total of 353 (7.15%) students had serologic evidence of infection. Infection rates increased from elementary school age to high school age, more so in Asian/Pacific Island-born students. The prevalence of infection was higher in Asian/Pacific Island-born students than in those born in the United States. The majority of infected Hawaiian-born students were first-generation Asian/Pacific Island Americans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Horizontal transmission of HBV occurs in Honolulu school-age children. HBV immunization of all infants in Hawaii, not just those born to carrier mothers, is necessary to reduce HBV transmission in Hawaii.
authors.affiliation: Hawaii Department of Health, Honolulu 96801.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Pon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diwan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian; D002353:Carrier State / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D010139:Pacific Islands / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens