Hepatitis B infection among Iraqi children: the impact of sanctions.
Effect of sanctions on hepatitis B vaccine availability and occurrence of viral hepatitis B among Iraqi children was studied. Between June 2000 and June 2001, families of patients attending the Public Health Laboratory, Mosul, for hepatitis B follow-up were screened. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test for HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBe. We diagnosed 74 children born 1994-1998 as HBsAg carriers. For 62 of 74 cases, parents had consulted vaccine centres promptly: 41 were not vaccinated and 21 had only one vaccine dose. HBeAg marker was positive for 9 (14.5%) and anti-HBe for 50 (80.7%). Parental reluctance was the reason for non-vaccination for 12. Vaccine shortages during the birth years of cases were documented, even after implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 986.
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Mosul, Ninevah, Iraq. halsinde@yahoo.com
D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014480:United Nations; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens