Prevalence of Hepatitis Markers in Roman Children

Abstract

A random sample of sera from children admitted over a 23-month period to a large paediatric hospital in Rome for diagnoses believed unrelated to viral hepatitis, was tested for HBsAG, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HAV. No sex or area of residence differences were found. The prevalence for markers of prior hepatitis B infection in children aged 1-12 years was 6.5%, in agreement with other observations in Italy and European countries. Prevalence of anti-HAV among children age 1-12 admitted for diagnoses believed unrelated to viral hepatitis was 10%. Prevalence of hepatitis markers in Roman women of reproductive age is estimated as 23.5 for B and 68.2 for A.

Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in non‐institutionalized children and adolescents affected by handicap

“…The prevalence of 4-2% found in this study is less than that found in 340 patients (age 1-12 years), admitted to a paediatric hospital in Rome in 1982 (6-5%) (Pasquini et al 1982). On the other hand, incidence of hepatitis B seems to be decreasing (Mele et al 1990) and the prevalence resulting from the present study is in accordance with the 4-7% prevalence shown in a study of Sardinian adolescents (Stroffolini et al 1990).…”