Hepatitis B infection in rural Vietnam and the implications for a national program of infant immunization.
To ascertain hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection rates for Vietnam, we surveyed HBV markers in two districts of Thanh Hoa province. We randomly selected 536 infants (9- < or = 18 months old), 228 children (4 to < or = 6 years old), 219 adolescents (14 to < or = 16 years old), and 596 adults (25 to < or = 40 years old). On questioning, none of those surveyed had received vaccine against HBV. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and total HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) were measured in all specimens, and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) in those positive for HBsAg, and HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs) were measured in all others. Current infection (HBsAg+) rates were infants = 12.5%, children = 18.4%, adolescents = 20.5%, and adults = 18.8%. Current or previous infection (HBsAg+, anti-HBc+, or anti-HBs+) increased with age (infants = 19.6%, children = 36.4%, adolescents = 55.3%, adults = 79.2%). Rates of HBeAg among those HBsAg+ were infants = 85.1%, children = 88.1%, adolescents = 71.1%, and adults = 30.4%. The epidemiology of HBV in Vietnam resembles that of many southeast Asian nations before introduction of vaccine. Immunization of newborns will have enormous impact on HBV-related morbidity and mortality there.
Hipgrave
David B
DB
International Health Unit, The Burnet Institute, Alfred Medical Research & Education Precinct, Melbourne, Australia.
Nguyen
Thu Van
TV
Vu
Minh Huong
MH
Hoang
Thuy Long
TL
Do
Tuan Dat
TD
Tran
Nam Trung
NT
Jolley
Damien
D
Maynard
James E
JE
Biggs
Beverley-Ann
BA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines