Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies among a sample of Egyptian children.
We determined the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies (HAV Ab) among 296 Egyptian children aged 2.5-18 years of different social classes to ascertain whether to give HAV vaccine early in life or to leave children to acquire natural immunity. Overall 61.4% were seropositive for HAV Ab. There was a significant increase in the seroprevalence of HAV Ab with higher age and lower social class; in children aged < 6 years, 72.7% of high and 19.0% of low social class were seronegative for HAV Ab. A national vaccination programme for HAV is not a priority. We recommend vaccination against hepatitis A for high social class children at the preschool period without testing for HAV. Vaccination for middle social class children can be done, but only after testing for HAV.
Al-Aziz
A M Abd
AM
Department of Paediatrics, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. dr_amanyaziz@yahoo.com
Awad
M A M
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000191:economics; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines