Hepatitis B infection in households of HBsAg positive New Zealand children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine, from data obtained in a school-based hepatitis B vaccination programme, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in household contacts of children found to be hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive.


METHODS
Children who were HBsAg positive were visited in their homes 6 months or more after their initial blood test. Blood was drawn to confirm HBsAg status, and to ascertain HBeAg status. Their household contacts were tested for HBV seromarkers.


RESULTS
Visits were made to homes of 931 children initially found to be HBsAg positive. Nine hundred and seven of these children (97.4%) were still HBsAg positive and thus confirmed to be chronic HBsAg carriers. The testing of 2957 household contacts of HBsAg positive schoolchildren revealed that 719 (24.3%) were HBsAg positive, a rate many times higher than that in the schoolchildren initially tested. Total HBV seromarker rates were highest in Asian households, and lowest in Europeans where 57% had been infected and 12% were HBsAg positive. Ethnic differences were largely accounted for by variation in maternal HBsAg status, reflecting different rates of perinatal infection.


CONCLUSIONS
All family and household contacts of individuals identified as presumptive HBsAg carriers should be tested for HBV seromarkers as a routine. It is particularly important to ensure full prophylaxis against perinatal infection.
Martin
A R
AR
Hepatitis Foundation, Whakatane.
Moyes
C D
CD
Lucas
C R
CR
Milne
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012698:Serologic Tests
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines