Recent Changes in Prevalence of Hepatitis B Viral Markers in Preschool Children in Seoul,1995

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: A nationwide hepatitis B vaccination publicity campaign and program was launched in 1988 in Korea. This survey was designed to evaluate the recent changes of the positive rates of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in sampled preschool children living in Seoul, 1995. METHODS: Study population consisted of 218 preschool children aged 2 to 5 years. Most of them had been immunized against hepatitis B in accordance with the schedule in early infancy. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg, HBsAb and HBcAb by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Of 218 children, 214(98.2%) had received hepatitis B vaccination. Two of 218(0.9%) was surface antigen positive. The positive rates of HBsAb in age groups were 68.2, 73.6, 71.6, and 66.7% from 2 to 5 years, respectively (mean 70.6%). They showed no significant difference with aging. One(0.6%) of 154 who were HBsAb positive was HBcAb positive. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the children who were HBsAb positive acquired the antibodies by immunization, and vertical transmission is rare recently. Our findings suggest that the effective administration of vaccination with the help of publicity campaign lowers HBV transmission and increases positive rate of HBsAb.