title: [Frequency of hepatitis a in children and adolescents from five cities of Peru].
abstract: In order to determine the frequency of hepatitis A in children and adolescents in the cities of Lima, Arequipa, Piura, Cajamarca and Iquitos, a descriptive cross-sectional study which measured serum anti-hepatitis A antibodies from 1,721 children and adolescents aged 1-15 years was performed. The overall frequency of positive serology was 50.5% (95% CI: 48.1 to 52.9), with lower rates for Lima at 37.4% (95% CI: 35.1 to 39.8) and higher rates for Iquitos at 68.7% (95% CI: 63.6 to 73.4). Seropositivity was higher in the group of 10-15 year-olds with 66.1% and in the socioeconomic status group E with 64.6%. We concluded that the cities studied have a pattern of intermediate endemicity. The frequency of hepatitis A was greater in children and adolescents of lower socioeconomic status and older age.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chaparro
authors.affiliation: Hospital EsSalud Iquitos, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Hospital Regional Cayetano Heredia, Piura, Perú
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carbajal
authors.affiliation: Hospital Regional de Cajamarca, Cajamarca, Perú
authors.forename: Érico
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Cieza
authors.affiliation: Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima, Perú
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cerpa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002947:Cities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class