title: Prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies in an urban middle class area of Argentina: some associated factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in 360 middle-class subjects from Buenos Aires City and its outskirts.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 360 individuals between 10 and 89 years of age, from the socioeconomic middle class in Buenos Aires City and some suburban areas of Buenos Aires province. Antibodies to hepatitis A virus were determined by enzyme immunoassay test kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of HAV antibodies was 42.2%. The highest percentage of seronegativity was found in the subgroup of younger people without a history of symptomatic hepatitis and living in houses with more than one bathroom (86.9%). In the subgroup aged 21 to 60 years, the highest rates of seronegativity were found in individuals with higher level of education living in houses with tap water (66.6%). In both groups, seronegativity may be correlated with a higher socioeconomic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the middle-class community studied, more than 50% of people under 30 years of age were unprotected against HAV. Thus, the use of a vaccine against hepatitis A has to be considered for the prevention of symptomatic hepatitis, especially in adults at risk of infection, such as those who travel to areas with poor sanitation, taking into consideration that the severity of the disease increases with age.
authors.affiliation: Center for Infectious Diseases, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zitto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baré
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vukasovic
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies