Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B in Greek children 6 years after the implementation of universal vaccination.
The seroepidemiology of hepatitis B in children living in Greece 6 years post-implementation of universal infant immunization (1998) was studied. We collected 90-100 sera/year of age, stratified by geographic region. The prevalence of HbsAg(+) was 0.6% (95% CI 0.3-1.3) whereas 4.5% (95% CI 3.4-5.9%) of children over 12 months of age had evidence of past HBV infection. A significant decline in the prevalence of past infection between children born before and after 1998 (5.5% vs 2.9%; RR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.03-3.5) was noted. Conversely, the prevalence of past HBV infection did not change significantly among immigrant children. Reinforcement of early vaccination of immigrant population is necessary.
Papaevangelou
V
V
2nd Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Athens, "A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, Thivon and Livadias str, Goudi, Athens 11527, Greece. vpapaev@med.uoa.gr
Hadjichristodoulou
C
C
Cassimos
D C
DC
Pantelaki
K
K
Tzivaras
A
A
Hatzimichael
A
A
Theodoridou
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines