The declining pattern of seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection among adolescents in Bangkok, Thailand.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a health problem in countries where seroepidemiology shows changes from hyperendemicity to intermediate endemicity. Throughout the last decade, we studied, in Bangkok, the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody (anti-HAV) among adolescents of different age groups. In 1996, 245 serum specimens from children aged between 10 and 19 were tested for anti-HAV by ELISA method. The results were compared to those obtained in 1987 and 1993 from students of the same age and attending the same school. Anti-HAV was detected in 31.4%, 14.6% and 12.7% of school children in the years 1987, 1993 and 1996, respectively. Each year, it was found that an increasing prevalence of anti-HAV was related to an increasing age. From 1987 to 1996, the age specific prevalence of anti-HAV was markedly decreased in younger children. The surveillance of the epidemiological trend of HAV infection is important for implementing preventive measures and for controlling the disease.
Poovorawan
Y
Y
Viral Hepatitis Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Vimolkej
T
T
Chongsrisawat
V
V
Theamboonlers
A
A
Chumdermpadetsuk
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies