title: Prevalence of hepatitis B infection markers in Lebanese children: the need for an expanded programme on immunization.
abstract: This multi-centre, cross-sectional study was designed to reveal the present status of hepatitis B infection markers among Lebanese children, and provide recommendations regarding childhood immunization policies. A total of 841 children, aged between 6 months and 6.5 years, were enrolled from Lebanon's five districts. Their sera were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core IgG. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection markers was 0.8% with increasing age-specific rates from 0% at 6 months to 1.3 % at > 5 years. There was no statistically significant association between the presence of hepatitis B markers and family characteristics or risk factors for infection. The highest prevalence rates were among children from Beirut suburbs (2.9 %) and South Lebanon (1.6%). The risk of horizontal transmission of hepatitis B to uninfected children increased substantially after the age of 2 years. An expanded programme on immunization that integrates hepatitisB vaccine during the first year of life is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nabulsi
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Araj
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nuwayhid
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ariss
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines