title: [Theoretical estimation of the epidemiological impact of hepatitis A infection in Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis A vaccination is justified in areas with an intermediate endemicity of the infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the epidemiological impact of hepatitis A infection in Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epidemiological indicators of hepatitis A infection prevalence by age, morbidity by age, and lethality by age were estimated from a literature search. These measures were projected on a hypothetical cohort of children followed from birth until 15 years of age. The number of cases of infection, jaundice, hepatic failure, hospitalizations and deaths were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From birth to adolescence, a cohort of 872 923 urban children in Colombia would generate between 312,331 and 598,591 infections, between 13,586 and 25,960 hospitalizations, between 213 and 407 hepatic failures and between 107 and 204 deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of hepatitis A infection in Colombia, is important. Introducing hepatitis A vaccination would reduce a substantial number of severe hepatitis A cases.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Investigación en Economía de la Salud, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia. nalvis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alvis
authors.forename: Bibiana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Narvaez
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velandia
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De La Hoz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data