title: Retrospective detection of a subclinical hepatitis A virus (HAV) epidemic affecting juvenile cohorts of the Hungarian population.
abstract: Sero-epidemiological surveys of serum samples taken in 1982, 1987, 1994 and 1999 have been performed with hepatitis A virus-specific (HAV-specific) serological tests. Results obtained during these surveys show that the proportion of seropositive blood donors decreased from 69% to 18% within 17 years. The authors have recognised a (mainly subclinical) epidemic, affecting about 115000 teenagers in 1992-1994 in Hungary, is a threatening phenomenon. It was calculated that only about 3600 clinical diseases were associated with the epidemic, recognised retrospectively from the findings of the four sero-epidemiological surveys. Epidemiological data indicated that the excess clinical diseases caused by HAV concentrated in the southern counties of Hungary, which have been affected by the social and military activities between 1992 and 1994. Due to the decrease of subjects seropositive for HAV, sera from preselected or actively immunised donors will be required in the future and vaccination against HAV with killed virus is likely to be recommended for risk groups. Furthermore, health authorities might promote active immunisation of young children against HAV infection; for that, promotion of manufacturing combination vaccines of HAV/HBV/DPT or, for certain countries, HAV/DPT would be desirable.
authors.affiliation: 'B. Johan' National Center for Epidemiology, 1966 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Odön
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brojnás
authors.forename: Erzsébet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rusvai
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ordög
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siska
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faludi
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kapusinszky
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csohán
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lendvai
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mezey
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berencsi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies