Anti-hepatitis A virus frequency in adolescents at an outpatient clinic in São Paulo, Brazil.
The prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies was assessed in adolescents (age ranging from 10.4 to 19.9 years) at an Adolescent Outpatient Clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. Anti-HAV was detected in 137 (54.2%) out of 253 individuals. When separated into two age groups, anti-HAV frequency was higher in the 15 to 19 year-old group (64%) in comparison to the 10 to 14 year-old group (46%) (Chi-square test: p = 0.004). These results suggest that adolescents in São Paulo are at risk of hepatitis A infection and are probably contracting HAV infection during this age period.
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Maria Isabel Saraiva
MI
Dinelli
Mauro
M
Fisberg
Maria Isabel de
MI
Moraes-Pinto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies