Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in first grade primary school children living in Sivas, Turkey

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the portion of children vaccinated against HBV and immunized to HBV after vaccination program was started in Turkey, to detect infected children with HBV or carriers, and to show the prevalence of HCV in the children. Material and Method: The study is a cross-sectional research which was carried out to seven-year-old children from the 1st grades of primary schools in Sivas city center. Venous serum specimens obtained from the children were tested for anti-HBc Ig G and M, HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HCV by using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Of 607 children, 301 (49.6%) were females and 306 (50.4%) were males. The numbers of the children who were anti-HBs (+) were 449 (73.9%), anti-HBs (-) were 158 (26.1%). It was found that the prevalences of HBsAg and HCV were 0.16%. Conclusions: Since the prevalences of HBsAg and HCV were found lower in our study than the expected, we are in the opinion that with successful efforts in the health services, the spread of viral hepatitis in our country can be dropped to the levels of the countries which have low levels. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 132-6)