Diagnosis of viral hepatitis

Childhood epidemiology of hepatitis A virus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The prevalence of anti-HAV antibody in children was tested in subjects presenting at clinics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A blood sample was taken to test for the presence of IgG (indicating past infection) and a questionnaire concerning personal and epidemiological data relating to hepatitis A was completed. In total, 592 children aged 6 months to 15 years were suitable for the analysis. There were 179 subjects who were positive for HAV (30.2%). The proportions of subjects positive for HAV varied significantly with age (P=0.001); 32%-49% in the 7-15 age range were positive compared with 13-20% aged 6 and below. There was a significant association between a positive HAV test and social level (P=0.044), with a higher proportion positive in the low social level. Children with jaundice, personal history of jaundice or travel abroad were significantly more likely to be HAV positive (P=0.001, P=0.006, P=0.021, respectively). There was also a significant association with nationality (P=0.022), where the lowest proportion of HAV positive children were Saudi Arabian (28%). Compared to previous studies, there is a significant decrease in the HAV exposure in Saudi children with shift from high to intermediate pattern. National strategy for prevention should be evaluated.