Korean J Gastroenterol.  2011 Mar;57(3):166-172. 10.4166/kjg.2011.57.3.166.

The Seroprevalence Rate, Vaccination Rate and Seroconversion Rate of Hepatitis A in Central Region of Korea

• Yun SW
• Lee WK
• Cho SY
• Moon SH
• Shin HD
• Yun SY
• Kim SB
• Shin JE
• Kim HJ
• Song IH
• Lee KS
• Lee JH

• KMID: 1128355
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2011.57.3.166

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Acute hepatitis A (HAV) is markedly increasing recently on. Some patients with acute hepatitis A show severe clinical course. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV has been changing with the regions and the times. Vaccination and seroconversion rate of HAV are not well known. In this study, we aimed to study the difference of seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to various clinical factors and to know the vaccination rate and seroconversion rate below 10 years old in the central region of South Korea including Cheonan city.
METHODS
Seven hundred seventy two subjects were included in the study from January to September 2009. We analyzed seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to sex, age, region, and other viral markers. We interviewed the history of vaccination(1st, 2nd) and analyzed seroconversion rate according to vaccination time below 10 years old.
RESULTS
The total seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV was 65.3%. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV rate in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th decade was very low (1.9%, 18.8%, 44.8%). The vaccination rate of children was about 50%. The seroconversion rate after 1st, and 2nd vaccination were 85%, 96%.
CONCLUSIONS
Catch-up vaccination for teenagers and young adults is needed. Immunizing children with HAV vaccine as a routine schedule should be considered.

Keyword

Seroprevalence rate; Vaccination rate; Seroconversion rate; Hepatitis A

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Hepatitis A/*epidemiology/prevention & control
Hepatitis A Antibodies/*blood
*Hepatitis A Vaccines
Hepatitis A Virus, Human/immunology
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Male
Middle Aged
Republic of Korea
Seroepidemiologic Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to sex. There was no statistical difference (p＞0.05).

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  Fig. 2. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to age group. The seroprevalence rate was lowest in second and third decade.

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  Fig. 3. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to region. The seroprevalence rate of rural was higher than that of urban (p ＜0.01).

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  Fig. 4. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV according to viral markers. Patients with chronic hepatitis B did not show difference in seroprevalence rate of IgG anti HAV (p＞0.05). Patients with chronic hepatitis C showed higher seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV (p＜0.01).

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  Fig. 5. The vaccination rate below 10 years old. The mean vaccination rate was 50.6%.

Reference

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