Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in non-institutionalized children and adolescents affected by handicap

J Intellect Disabil Res. 1993 Jun:37 ( Pt 3):295-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.1993.tb01286.x.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in a population of non-institutionalized handicapped 1-19-year-old patients. Thirty-six out of 70 patients lived in southern Italy and 19 were affected by Down's syndrome. Only three (4.2%) were positive for anti-HBc (one of these also for anti-HBs) and none for HBsAg. Low prevalence seems to indicate that no particular anti-HBV vaccination strategy is to be considered on this subset of population and on their contacts. Serum prevalence of HBV among nurses and other members of personnel was 11.3%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Down Syndrome / microbiology
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood*
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intellectual Disability / complications*
  • Intellectual Disability / epidemiology
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens