Epidemiologic shift in the prevalence of Hepatitis A virus in Saudi Arabia

[Guest guest]

Vaccine

Volume 24, Issues 27-28 , 7 July 2006, Pages 5599-5603

Epidemiologic shift in the prevalence of Hepatitis A virus in Saudi Arabia:

A case for routine Hepatitis A vaccination

M.A. Almuneefa, b, Z.A. Memisha, c, , , H.H. Balkhya, b, M. Qahtania, B.

AlOtaibia, A. Hajeerd, L. Qasimd and B. Al Knawyc

aDepartment of Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical

City-King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

bDepartment of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City-King Fahad National

Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

cDepartment of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City-King Fahad

National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

dDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical

City-King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Received 11 February 2006; revised 15 April 2006; accepted 17 April 2006.

Available online 11 May 2006.

Abstract

This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A among a

selected group of Saudi children and thus, identify the best immunization

strategy. A school-based seroprevalence study in children 4–18 years of age

attending the National Guard schools was done.

Of the 25,531 children attending the National Guard schools, 2399 (10%) were

randomly selected through a stratified one-stage cluster survey. The overall

prevalence of HAV-IgG was 28.9%. The prevalence was almost the same in male

and female (28.2% versus 29.5%, respectively). There was a gradual increase

in the HAV-IgG with 7% in children (<8 years), 14% (8–11 years), 30% (12–15

years), and 52% (>16 years) of age.

Since a substantial proportion of this pediatric population confirms a

continuing decrease in anti-HAV seroconversion rates, we recommend including

Hepatitis A in the schedule of routine childhood vaccinations.

Correspondence to: GCC Centre for Infection Control, P.O. Box 22490, Riyadh

11426, Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966 1 2520088x3718; fax: +966 1 2520437.

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

Vaccine

Volume 24, Issues 27-28 , 7 July 2006, Pages 5599-5603

Epidemiologic shift in the prevalence of Hepatitis A virus in Saudi Arabia:

A case for routine Hepatitis A vaccination

M.A. Almuneefa, b, Z.A. Memisha, c, , , H.H. Balkhya, b, M. Qahtania, B.

AlOtaibia, A. Hajeerd, L. Qasimd and B. Al Knawyc

aDepartment of Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical

City-King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

bDepartment of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City-King Fahad National

Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

cDepartment of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City-King Fahad

National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

dDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical

City-King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Received 11 February 2006; revised 15 April 2006; accepted 17 April 2006.

Available online 11 May 2006.

Abstract

This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A among a

selected group of Saudi children and thus, identify the best immunization

strategy. A school-based seroprevalence study in children 4–18 years of age

attending the National Guard schools was done.

Of the 25,531 children attending the National Guard schools, 2399 (10%) were

randomly selected through a stratified one-stage cluster survey. The overall

prevalence of HAV-IgG was 28.9%. The prevalence was almost the same in male

and female (28.2% versus 29.5%, respectively). There was a gradual increase

in the HAV-IgG with 7% in children (<8 years), 14% (8–11 years), 30% (12–15

years), and 52% (>16 years) of age.

Since a substantial proportion of this pediatric population confirms a

continuing decrease in anti-HAV seroconversion rates, we recommend including

Hepatitis A in the schedule of routine childhood vaccinations.

Correspondence to: GCC Centre for Infection Control, P.O. Box 22490, Riyadh

11426, Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966 1 2520088x3718; fax: +966 1 2520437.

_________________________________________________________________

On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to

get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement