Hepatitis A in Saudi Arabia: A comparative sero-epidemiological study

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis A Virus infection amon g Saudi children (1-12 years) in 1997. To compare the results with our prev ious study in 1989. Methods: This is a randomized community-based study involving all of the re gions of Saudi Arabia. All children were tested for antibody Hepatitis A Vi rus immunoglobulin IgG class. Results: The prevalence of anti-Hepatitis A Virus IgG among 5355 Saudi chil dren tested ranged from 10% in Taif to 82% in Gizan regions with an overall prevalence of 25%. There is a reduction of the overall prevalence from 50. 5% in 1989 to 25% in 1997. Conclusion: This study shows a marked decline in Hepatitis A Virus infectio n in Saudi children 8 years after the first study. There is an almost 50% r eduction of the overall Hepatitis A Virus prevalence. This dramatic decline in Hepatitis A Virus infection among the Saudi children will lead to a lat er exposure of elderly population groups to the Hepatitis A Virus infection and a new preventive strategy needing to be adopted.