Adult infection with hepatitis A despite declining endemicity; in favor of adult vaccination.
Seropositivity against hepatitis A was examined among 4806 standing army personnel (4497 males and 309 females) during 1998-1999. Each bi-annual birth cohort examined showed a decline in seropositivity compared to the previous one. When compared with a study performed in 1989, however, for each of the 1961-1962, 1963-1964, 1965-1966, 1967-1968 and 1969-1970 birth cohorts examined, the 1998-1999 study showed 5-15% higher seropositivity. This trend remained after controlling for differences between the two studies in ethnic origin, sibship size and level of education. The overall seroconversion rate is estimated as 1.15% per year and the clinical to subclinical ratio as 1:14. Thus, hepatitis A infection continues to occur in the young adult age group and vaccination of this group should be considered.
Gillis
David
D
Department of Pediatrics, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel
Grotto
Itamar
I
Mimouni
Daniel
D
Huerta
Michael
M
Gdalevich
Michael
M
Shpilberg
Ofer
O
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014611:Vaccination; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated