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Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle
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Epidemiological survey of Japanese children infected with hepatitis B and C viruses

Toshiyuki Iitsuka1, Jun Murakami, Ikuo Nagata

  • 1Division of Pediatrics and Perinatology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.

Hepatology Research : the Official Journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
|October 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) primarily spreads from mothers to children in Japan. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) prevention requires continued efforts, including expanding universal vaccination for children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • A nationwide survey on hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Japanese children was lacking.
  • Understanding the epidemiological profiles of these viral infections in children is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiological profiles of HBV and HCV infections among Japanese children.
  • To identify transmission routes and trends in pediatric HBV and HCV infections in Japan.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire survey was conducted among 136 HBV-infected and 114 HCV-infected children (<20 years) across 636 Japanese pediatric institutions (2003-2005).
  • Transmission routes were categorized as maternal, horizontal (intrafamilial, iatrogenic, other), and unknown.
  • Data were analyzed comparing children born before and after key screening implementation dates.

Main Results:

  • For HCV, a significant increase in maternal transmission (14% to 89%) was observed in children born after 1989 (P < 0.001).
  • For HBV, maternal transmission increased (52% to 70%), but this shift was not statistically significant (P = 0.120).
  • HBV horizontal transmission did not decrease proportionally, and no transfusion-acquired HCV infections were reported in children born after 1993.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal transmission is a primary source of HCV infection in Japanese children.
  • Preventing HBV horizontal transmission is essential, and selective vaccination programs should transition to universal vaccination.
  • Epidemiological data highlight the need for targeted interventions for pediatric viral hepatitis in Japan.
Abstract

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