The changing pattern of hepatitis B virus infection over the past three decades in Italy.
By the end of 1970s, Italy was a country at medium endemic level of hepatitis B virus infection, with wide geographical differences; intrafamily transmission was the major mode by which infection spread; hepatitis B e antigen positivity and hepatitis Delta positivity were frequently detected in hepatitis B surface antigen chronic carriers; a high proportion of subjects with chronic liver disease resulted as hepatitis B surface antigen positive. Three decades apart, the picture was completely changed, as documented by several surveys. Nowadays, Italy is a country at very low endemic level of hepatitis B, without geographical differences; the infection is mostly sexually transmitted; hepatitis B e antigen positivity and hepatitis Delta positivity are rarely detected in hepatitis B surfaces antigen chronic carriers; a low proportion of subjects with chronic liver disease result hepatitis B surface antigen positive. These important changes may be due to both non-specific (i.e. improvement in socio-demographic features) and specific (i.e. a comprehensive vaccination program against hepatitis B) preventive measures.
Department of Gastroenterology, S. Giacomo Hospital, Rome, Italy. stommaso@iss.it
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines