Τίτλος:
Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A among Greek children indicates that the virus is still prevalent: Implications for universal vaccination
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
A national cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted in order to evaluate the current seroepidemiology of hepatitis A among 1,383 children, aged 0-14 years, residing in Greece. Stratification of the study population was conducted according to age and area of residence. Sera from study participants were tested for the presence of anti-HAV IgG antibodies. Immigrant children, as well as children residing in rural areas, had lower immunization rates. Among unvaccinated children, the seroprevalence rate of anti-HAV was 17.1%. Nationality was shown to have a marginally significant effect since non-immunized immigrant children had a higher seroprevalence rate (22.4% vs. 15.9%, OR = 1.52, P = 0.064). Significant differences between geographic areas for both vaccination coverage and natural immunity were observed. The study findings indicate that hepatitis A is prevalent in Greece and therefore universal infant hepatitis A immunization should be implemented. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Συγγραφείς:
Kyrka, A.
Tragiannidis, A.
Cassimos, D.
Pantelaki, K.
Tzoufi, M.
Mavrokosta, M.
Pedeli, X.
Athanassiadou, F.
Hatzimichael, A.
Konstantopoulos, A.
Kafetzis, D.
Papaevangelou, V.
Περιοδικό:
Journal of Medical Virology
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
hepatitis A vaccine; immunoglobulin G; hepatitis A antibody; hepatitis A vaccine, adolescent; antibody detection; article; child; drug safety; drug tolerability; Greece; health program; hepatitis A; Hepatitis A virus; human; immigrant; infant; major clinical study; preschool child; rural area; school child; seroepidemiology; serology; seroprevalence; vaccination; blood; epidemiology; female; Greece; hepatitis A; Hepatitis A virus; immunology; male; newborn; prevalence; statistics, Hepatitis A virus, Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Greece; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A Antibodies; Hepatitis A Vaccines; Hepatitis A virus; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Prevalence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Vaccination
