THE PREVALENCE OF MARKERS FOR HEPATITIS-A AND HEPATITIS-B IN A POPULATION FROM 6 TO 25 YEARS FROM GIJON, SPAIN

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of previo us infection markers for hepatitis A and B viruses in a pediatric-juve nile population from Gijon, Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A representat ive (according to the census), transversal randomized sample of a popu lation from 6 to 25 years in age from Gijon, Spain, was included in th e study analyzing demographic, epidemiologic and clinical variables, l iver tests, anti-HAV IgG and anti-HBc. RESULTS: Of the 630 individuals selected a demographic error was detected in 28 (4.4%) and 453 subjec ts were studied (71.9%) in whom the anti-HAV IgG was positive in 37 ca ses (8.75% of prevalence adjusted for age), with 4.4% (12/271) (CI 95% 2.3%-7.6%) for the younger cases and 13.7% (25/182) (CI 95% 9.1%-19.6 %) in the group ranging from 18 to 25 years in age (p < 0.001). No ant i-HAV IgG positive case was detected in the population under the age o f 10 years. Among the young adults the prevalence of anti-HAV IgG posi tive cases was higher in those born in the south of Spain (2/6, 33.3%) (CI 95% 4.3%-77.7%) with respect to those from the northern regions o f Spain (9/259, 3.5%) (CI 95% 1.6%-6.4%), (p = 0.02). With respect to HBV markers, of the 433 unvaccinated cases, 6 (1.4%) presented markers of past infection and 2 (0.46%) HBsAg positivity. Both had normal ser um ALT without viral replication. Six cases of hypertransaminasemia le vels (1.3%) were detected all being related with obesity or alcoholism . All the cases with previous acute clinical hepatitis were found to b e anti-HAV IgG positive and anti-HBc negative. CONCLUSIONS: The curren t prevalence of anti-HAV IgG in the population from 6 to 25 years from Gijon, Spain is very low and given the high degree of susceptibility (86%) for HAV infection in the young adult population (18-25 years) th e implementation of vaccination programs is recommended even without p revious serologic screening. The low prevalence of anti-Hbc would also undervalue its use as prevaccination screening against HE in this geo graphical area.