Hepatitis B virus transmission in pre-adolescent schoolchildren in four multi-ethnic areas of England.
Epidemiol Infect
; 141(5): 916-25, 2013 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22849968
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of childhood hepatitis B virus transmission in children born in the UK, a very low-prevalence country, that is preventable only by universal hepatitis B immunization of infants. Oral fluid specimens were collected from schoolchildren aged 7-11 years in four inner city multi-ethnic areas and tested for the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Those found positive or indeterminate were followed up with testing on serum to confirm their hepatitis B status. The overall prevalence of anti-HBc in children was low [0.26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14-0.44]. The estimated average annual incidence of hepatitis B was estimated to be 29.26/100 000 children (95% CI 16.00-49.08). The total incidence that is preventable only by a universal infant immunization programme in the UK was estimated to be between 5.00 and 12.49/100 000. The study demonstrates that the extent of horizontal childhood hepatitis B virus transmission is low in children born in the UK and suggests that schools in the UK are an uncommon setting for the transmission of the virus. Targeted hepatitis B testing and immunization of migrants from intermediate- and high-prevalence countries is likely to be a more effective measure to reduce childhood transmission than a universal infant immunization programme.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Etnicidad
/
Hepatitis B
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
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Screening_studies
Límite:
Child
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Female
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Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Epidemiol Infect
Asunto de la revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
Año:
2013
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido