[Seroprevalence of three types of hepatotropic virus in a population of adolescents of the province of Guadalajara]. / Seroprevalencia de tres tipos de virus hepatotropos en población adolescente de la provincia de Guadalajara.

BACKGROUND: Viral forms of hepatitis are one of the most infectious disease groups most often encountered in human pathology, and although most are benign, some can evolve into chronic forms. The purpose of this study is that of ascertaining the prevalence of hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr and human herpesvirus-6 infections among eighth-graders (13-14 years of age) and to related the same to variables regarding the gender and environment (rural or urban) in which they were living. METHODS: Descriptive, transversal study of a representative sample of the eighth-grade population in the province of Guadalajara during the 1998-1999 period. Systematic random sampling layered by gender and school (multi-stage sample format). The rate of specific IgG antibodies was determined using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: A study was conducted of 268 school-age children (46.6% males). The prevalence of Epstein-Barr antibodies was of 73.5% (CI: 67.9%-78.5%); 72% (CI: 64%-80%) among the males and of 74.8% (CI: 67.7%-81.9%) among the females (NS); 65.6% (CI: 57.4%-73.8%) residing in an urban environment and 80.7% in a rural environment (p < 0.05). The prevalence of those who tested positive for the hepatitis virus was that of 0.7%--two individuals, both females, one of whom resided in an urban environment and the other in a rural environment. For herpesvirus-6, the prevalence was of 82.4% (CI: 77.9%-86.9%); 81.5% (CI: 74.7%-88.3%) among the males and of 83.2% (CI: 77.1%-89.3%) among the females (NS), 86.7% (CI: 80.4%-92.2%) residing in an urban environment and 78.5% (CI: 73.1%-86.5%) in a rural environment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Epstein-Barr and human herpesvirus-6 and low degree as regards VHC is high, which tallies with the characteristics of the environment and age of the individuals under study.

[Coverage and immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in adolescents of the Guadalajara province]. / Cobertura e inmunorrespuesta a la vacunación frente al virus de la hepatitis B en adolescentes de la provincia de Guadalajara.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B comprises one of the major health problems worldwide. One of the measures for the prevention thereof is the massive vaccination of adolescents. The purpose of our study is that of assessing the degree of coverage of the systematic hepatitis B prevention campaign among the 8th-grade population in the province of Guadalajara in addition to studying the immune response of said population, relating said response to other variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. The degree of coverage of the vaccination campaign was studied throughout the entire target population in the province in question. For the study of the immune response, a sample of 338 students was taken by systematic random sampling. The titres of anti-HB's were quantified 6 months following the third dosage, levels of 10 mU/ml or above being considered as being levels providing protection. RESULTS: The percentage of students properly vaccinated totaled 82.7%. The overall serum protection rate was 97.5%, and 46.7% of the sample responded showing titres of over 100 mU/ml. A statistically significant inverse relationship (p < 0.001) existed between the level of anti-HB's and the Quetelet level, we not having found any significant differences between the two sexes on comparing the postvaccination titres of anti-HB's. CONCLUSIONS: We consider the degree of coverage provided to be satisfactory and the immunogenic aspect of the vaccine to be good. Obesity is a factor providing a prior indication of a minor response to the same. This response is not influenced by the subject's sex.