title: Epidemiologic shift in the prevalence of Hepatitis A virus in Saudi Arabia: a case for routine Hepatitis A vaccination.
abstract: This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A among a selected group of Saudi children and thus, identify the best immunization strategy. A school-based seroprevalence study in children 4-18 years of age attending the National Guard schools was done. Of the 25,531 children attending the National Guard schools, 2399 (10%) were randomly selected through a stratified one-stage cluster survey. The overall prevalence of HAV-IgG was 28.9%. The prevalence was almost the same in male and female (28.2% versus 29.5%, respectively). There was a gradual increase in the HAV-IgG with 7% in children (< 8 years), 14% (8-11 years), 30% (12-15 years), and 52% (> 16 years) of age. Since a substantial proportion of this pediatric population confirms a continuing decrease in anti-HAV seroconversion rates, we recommend including Hepatitis A in the schedule of routine childhood vaccinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical City-King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Almuneef
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Balkhy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qahtani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alotaibi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hajeer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qasim
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al Knawy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines