Current status of liver diseases in Korea: hepatitis A.
The seroprevalence of anti-HAV (hepatitis A virus) has been decreasing in Korea. The decrease in HAV infection in young adults has resulted in the reduction of individuals with protective antibody and an increase in hepatitis A in the adult population. The increase in HAV infection in adults will have an impact on the magnitude and severity of the disease. In Korea, symptomatic hepatitis A has been gradually increasing since the mid-1990s, with a tendency toward an increase in mean age and disease severity. The endemic genotype of HAV in Korea has been changing from genotype IA alone to a mixture of genotype IA and IIIA. Therefore, preventive measures including universal vaccination in infants and active immunization of the adult population should be considered.
Kwon
So Young
SY
Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sykwonmd@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines