Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in schoolchildren in Catalonia (Spain) after the introduction of universal hepatitis A immunization

[Guest guest]

J Med Virol. 2004 Jun;73(2):172-6.

Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in schoolchildren in Catalonia (Spain)

after the introduction of universal hepatitis A immunization.

Dominguez A, Bruguera M, Plans P, Costa J, Salleras L.

Directorate of Public Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.

angela.dominguez@...

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis A

antibodies (anti-HAV) in schoolchildren in Catalonia and to compare it with

the rates found in previous studies. Sera from a representative sample of

1,342 children aged between 6 and 15 years, recruited in 2001, were tested

for anti-HAV. The results were related to sociodemographic variables and

vaccination history. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 51.4%. The

prevalence was 5.5% in non-vaccinated children, similar to that found in a

1996 study, and 96.6% in vaccinated children. The prevalence of anti-HAV in

non-vaccinated children increased significantly with age, reaching 11.6% in

the 13-15 years age group. The prevalence of anti-HAV was higher in children

born outside Catalonia than in those born in Catalonia (16.1% vs. 5.0%, P =

0.02). The expected continuation in the decline in the prevalence of

anti-HAV in non-vaccinated schoolchildren, observed in Catalonia since 1986,

was not found in 2001. The rate of anti-HAV in 2001 was slightly higher than

in 1996, although the difference was not statistically significant (5.5 and

3.5%, respectively). This could be explained by the increased number of

recent immigrant children born outside Catalonia, mainly in countries where

hepatitis A is highly endemic. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 15122789 [PubMed]

[Guest guest]

J Med Virol. 2004 Jun;73(2):172-6.

Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in schoolchildren in Catalonia (Spain)

after the introduction of universal hepatitis A immunization.

Dominguez A, Bruguera M, Plans P, Costa J, Salleras L.

Directorate of Public Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.

angela.dominguez@...

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis A

antibodies (anti-HAV) in schoolchildren in Catalonia and to compare it with

the rates found in previous studies. Sera from a representative sample of

1,342 children aged between 6 and 15 years, recruited in 2001, were tested

for anti-HAV. The results were related to sociodemographic variables and

vaccination history. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 51.4%. The

prevalence was 5.5% in non-vaccinated children, similar to that found in a

1996 study, and 96.6% in vaccinated children. The prevalence of anti-HAV in

non-vaccinated children increased significantly with age, reaching 11.6% in

the 13-15 years age group. The prevalence of anti-HAV was higher in children

born outside Catalonia than in those born in Catalonia (16.1% vs. 5.0%, P =

0.02). The expected continuation in the decline in the prevalence of

anti-HAV in non-vaccinated schoolchildren, observed in Catalonia since 1986,

was not found in 2001. The rate of anti-HAV in 2001 was slightly higher than

in 1996, although the difference was not statistically significant (5.5 and

3.5%, respectively). This could be explained by the increased number of

recent immigrant children born outside Catalonia, mainly in countries where

hepatitis A is highly endemic. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 15122789 [PubMed]

[Guest guest]

J Med Virol. 2004 Jun;73(2):172-6.

Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in schoolchildren in Catalonia (Spain)

after the introduction of universal hepatitis A immunization.

Dominguez A, Bruguera M, Plans P, Costa J, Salleras L.

Directorate of Public Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.

angela.dominguez@...

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis A

antibodies (anti-HAV) in schoolchildren in Catalonia and to compare it with

the rates found in previous studies. Sera from a representative sample of

1,342 children aged between 6 and 15 years, recruited in 2001, were tested

for anti-HAV. The results were related to sociodemographic variables and

vaccination history. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 51.4%. The

prevalence was 5.5% in non-vaccinated children, similar to that found in a

1996 study, and 96.6% in vaccinated children. The prevalence of anti-HAV in

non-vaccinated children increased significantly with age, reaching 11.6% in

the 13-15 years age group. The prevalence of anti-HAV was higher in children

born outside Catalonia than in those born in Catalonia (16.1% vs. 5.0%, P =

0.02). The expected continuation in the decline in the prevalence of

anti-HAV in non-vaccinated schoolchildren, observed in Catalonia since 1986,

was not found in 2001. The rate of anti-HAV in 2001 was slightly higher than

in 1996, although the difference was not statistically significant (5.5 and

3.5%, respectively). This could be explained by the increased number of

recent immigrant children born outside Catalonia, mainly in countries where

hepatitis A is highly endemic. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 15122789 [PubMed]

[Guest guest]

J Med Virol. 2004 Jun;73(2):172-6.

Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in schoolchildren in Catalonia (Spain)

after the introduction of universal hepatitis A immunization.

Dominguez A, Bruguera M, Plans P, Costa J, Salleras L.

Directorate of Public Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.

angela.dominguez@...

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis A

antibodies (anti-HAV) in schoolchildren in Catalonia and to compare it with

the rates found in previous studies. Sera from a representative sample of

1,342 children aged between 6 and 15 years, recruited in 2001, were tested

for anti-HAV. The results were related to sociodemographic variables and

vaccination history. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 51.4%. The

prevalence was 5.5% in non-vaccinated children, similar to that found in a

1996 study, and 96.6% in vaccinated children. The prevalence of anti-HAV in

non-vaccinated children increased significantly with age, reaching 11.6% in

the 13-15 years age group. The prevalence of anti-HAV was higher in children

born outside Catalonia than in those born in Catalonia (16.1% vs. 5.0%, P =

0.02). The expected continuation in the decline in the prevalence of

anti-HAV in non-vaccinated schoolchildren, observed in Catalonia since 1986,

was not found in 2001. The rate of anti-HAV in 2001 was slightly higher than

in 1996, although the difference was not statistically significant (5.5 and

3.5%, respectively). This could be explained by the increased number of

recent immigrant children born outside Catalonia, mainly in countries where

hepatitis A is highly endemic. Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 15122789 [PubMed]