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Changing pattern of hepatitis B infection in children: a comparative seroepidemiological study (1979 vs 1989) in
M Chiaramonte1, R Trivello, T Stroffolini
1Divisione di Gastroenterologia R Farini, Università di Padova, Italy.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection prevalence significantly declined in Italian children between 1979 and 1989. This study shows a decrease in Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and overall HBV markers in the pediatric population.
Area of Science:
- * Hepatology and Virology
- * Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- * Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was historically endemic in Italy, with household transmission being a primary spread mechanism.
- * Previous studies indicated higher HBV prevalence in children compared to adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To assess the trend of HBV infection in a pediatric population in Italy.
- * To compare HBV seroprevalence in school children in 1979 with a follow-up study in 1989.
Main Methods:
- * A seroepidemiological study was conducted on 1635 school children (aged 6, 10, and 14 years) in 1989.
- * Serum samples were tested for Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) using enzyme immunoassays.
- * Data were compared with a 1979 study of 500 children (aged 6-15 years) from the same town.
Main Results:
- * In 1979, 16% of children showed serological evidence of HBV infection.
- * In 1989, only one child (0.06%) tested HBsAg positive, and 21 children (1.29%) were positive for any HBV marker.
- * Both HBsAg prevalence and overall HBV marker prevalence were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in 1989 compared to 1979.
Conclusions:
- * A significant decline in HBV infection rates was observed in the Italian pediatric population between 1979 and 1989.
- * These findings suggest the effectiveness of potential public health interventions or changes in transmission dynamics over the decade.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B infection was endemic in Italy and household transmission has been considered to be the main mode of HBV spread. Prevalence of HBsAg positive subjects was therefore higher in children than in adults. Serum samples from 500 children (aged 6-15 year) without overt liver disease were tested for HBV serum markers in 1979. Serological evidence of HBV infection was present in 16% of the subjects. To verify a possible decline of HBV infection we designed a seroepidemiological study in school children from the same town. Three classes of age (6 yrs, 10 yrs, 14 yrs) were selected. Children were recruited from those attending primary and secondary schools using a systematic cluster sampling. After parents' informed consent sera were collected in May 1989. All were tested for anti-HBc: anti-HBc + ve sera were then tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs (EIA Abbott Lab., Chicago, Ill. USA). Of the 1635 children one was HBsAg positive and 21 were positive for any HBV marker. Both the prevalence of HBsAg and that of any HBV marker were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in 1989 when compared to the corresponding age-class of 1979.