title: Age-specific seroepidemiology of hepatitis A, B, and E infections among children in Istanbul, Turkey.
abstract: This study was performed for evaluation of seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, and E among children in Istanbul, Turkey. The study group included 909 children who were 6 months-15 years of age. The children were separated to three age groups: Group 1 (6 months-4.9 years; n = 321), Group 2 (5.0-9.9 years; n = 318), and Group 3 (10.0-15.0 years; n = 270). Group I was divided to two subgroups for evaluation of the maternal antibody sera (6 months-2 years and over 2 years). Serum IgG anti-HAV, anti-HBc, and anti-HEV were tested by commercial ELISA kits. The data were studied by multivariant analysis. In all subjects, seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, and E were determined as 29, 15.9, and 2.1% respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis A increased with age (p < 0.05; Group 1 15.1% and Group 3 49.6%). Anti-HBc IgG level did not significantly change with age (Group 1 18.6% and Group 3 15.4%; p > 0.05). The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus infection was higher in Group 1 (3.7%) than Group 3 (0.3%; p < 0.05). In Group 1 first subgroup, between 6 month and 2 year, antibody levels were 12.2, 17.3, and 4.8% respectively, for anti-HAV IgG, anti-HBc IgG and anti-HEV IgG. Hepatitis A and B infection is a community health problem, but hepatitis E infection is low in children in Istanbul, Turkey. The high positive rate in Group I for IgG anti-HEV may be due to maternal antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health, Istanbul Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sidal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Unüvar
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oğuz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cihan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Onel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Badur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G