Sero-prevalence of hepatitis- a virus among children aged 1- 18 years in Easter Anatolia, Turkey

To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus among children aged 1-18 years in Elazig before national hepatitis A virus immunization program in Turkey. Prospective study. Elazig Education and Research Hospital and Elazig Harput State Hospital in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. 1258 patients admitted to pediatric polyclinic with suspicion of hepatitis A virus infection between January 2011 and December 2012 were included in the study. ELISA blood test. Serological markers of hepatitis A, anti-HAV IgM and anti-HAV IgG, were tested using the ELISA method. Two hundred and forty-eight patients who were Anti-HAV IgM positive were excluded from study. The mean age of the remaining 1010 pediatric patients was 10.7 +/- 5.1 years [range: 1-18 years]. Out of these, 558 [55.2%] were male and 452 [44.8%] female. Overall, 575 [56.9%] cases were seronegative against hepatitis A virus. Anti-HAV IgG was detected in435 patients [43.1%]. Out of these, 236 [54.3%] were male and 199 [45.7%] female. The mean age of seropositive cases was 11.7 +/- 5.2 years. Hepatitis A is an important public health problem in our region. This study has revealed an advanced age of exposure to hepatitis A virus infection. We argue that the application of routine hepatitis A vaccine to children in our region will reduce the potential severe complications of the infection