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Prevalence of hepatitis B infection markers in Lebanese children: the need for an expanded programme on immunization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2001

M. M. NABULSI ,
G. F. ARAJ ,
I. NUWAYHID ,
M. RAMADAN  and
M. ARISS
M. M. NABULSI
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
G. F. ARAJ
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
I. NUWAYHID
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
M. RAMADAN
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
M. ARISS
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
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Abstract

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This multi-centre, cross-sectional study was designed to reveal the present status of hepatitis B infection markers among Lebanese children, and provide recommendations regarding childhood immunization policies. A total of 841 children, aged between 6 months and 6·5 years, were enrolled from Lebanon's five districts. Their sera were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B core IgG. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection markers was 0·8 % with increasing age-specific rates from 0 % at 6 months to 1·3 % at > 5 years. There was no statistically significant association between the presence of hepatitis B markers and family characteristics or risk factors for infection. The highest prevalence rates were among children from Beirut suburbs (2·9 %) and South Lebanon (1·6 %). The risk of horizontal transmission of hepatitis B to uninfected children increased substantially after the age of 2 years. An expanded programme on immunization that integrates hepatitis B vaccine during the first year of life is needed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 126 , Issue 2 , April 2001 , pp. 285 - 289
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press