Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody among children and young adults in Bangkok.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in various age groups of healthy children and young adults who have not received the hepatitis A vaccine.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 825 volunteers aged 1-30 years from a well baby clinic and five academic institutions in the Don Mueang area from 1998 to 1999. Serum samples were assayed for specific HAV IgG antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.


RESULTS
The seropositivity rate (12.4% overall) in each age group was as follows: 1-3 years, 7.7 per cent; 4-7 years, 6.6 per cent; 8-11 years, 12.4 per cent; 12-15 years, 10.7 per cent and 16-30 years, 25.9 per cent.


CONCLUSIONS
In the Don Mueang area of Bangkok, the majority of children (< 16 years) do not have natural immunity against HAV. The use of hepatitis A vaccine for this population should be considered. Pre-vaccination serologic screening for HAV IgG in children may not be worthwhile.
Pancharoen
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Mekmullica
J
J
Kasempimolporn
S
S
Thisyakorn
U
U
Wilde
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies