title: Epidemiological, serological and molecular aspects of hepatitis B and C in children and teenagers of municipal daycare facilities schools and schools in the city of Santos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of the serological markers anti-HBc, HBsAg and anti-HBs of hepatitis B and anti-HCV of hepatitis C among children and teenagers enrolled at daycare facilities, kindergartens and municipal elementary education network in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out from June 28 to December 14, 2007, in which 4,680 finger-prick blood samples were collected from children and teenagers. A survey questionnaire was applied to their family members. The sample was dimensioned using the software Epi Info version 6 with expected frequency of 1%, acceptable error of 0.5% and confidence interval of 95%. The serological tests were performed using the ELISA technique. The molecular analysis was performed using the technique of polymerase chain reaction in House.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age of the studied population ranged from 7 months to 18 years and 1 month. The general prevalence of anti-HBc reagent was 0.1%, HBsAg was 0.02% and anti-HCV was 0.02%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children, the general prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B and C in the city of Santos was low when compared with literature data.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Célia Cunha
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ciaccia
authors.affiliation: Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Regina Célia
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcílio Figueiredo
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Takano
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Oba
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies