title: The changing pattern of hepatitis A in Lebanese adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A shift in the age of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection from early childhood to adulthood has been observed in many developing countries. This epidemiological shift has been attributed to improved socioeconomic status and sanitary conditions resulting in growing cohorts of susceptible young people and hence an increased risk of HAV outbreaks. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolutionary trend of anti-HAV seroprevalence in Lebanon in a cohort of Lebanese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study employing a convenience sample (voluntary blood donors) along with secondary data analysis. Sera from 283 healthy blood donors were tested for anti-HAV IgG antibodies. Moreover, we analyzed the national reports of HAV cases published by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health since 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-HAV seropositivity increased steadily from 60% in the younger age group (19-29 years) to 91% in the older age group (50-59 years), leaving the younger group at higher risk of acquiring HAV. The national data show that the number of acute hepatitis A infections is higher in the age groups 5-9 and 10-19 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our seroprevalence data reveal that young adults are becoming more at risk of acquiring HAV infection. Thus the introduction of hepatitis A vaccine is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, 11-0236 Riad El Solh 1107-2020, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Nada M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Melhem
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Miran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaffa
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hammoud Hospital University Medical Center, Saida, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zaatari
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Hanane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Awada
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Noura El
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Salibi
authors.affiliation: Medical Laboratory Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, 11-0236 Riad El Solh 1107-2020, Beirut, Lebanon. Electronic address: sramia@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramia
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies
keywords: Anti-HAV antibodies; Epidemiologic shift; Hepatitis A virus; Seroprevalence