Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  1997 May;4(1):90-96. 10.14776/kjpid.1997.4.1.90.

Outbreak of Hepatitis A in TaeJon in 1996: Clinical and Epidemiologic Study in Children

• Choi JO
• Lee KY
• Lee DJ
• Han JW
• Hwang SS
• Lee KS

• KMID: 2440361
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/kjpid.1997.4.1.90

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recently a shift in hepatitis A incidence from children to adults has been well noted. We experienced under 15-years old 31 patients who presented hepatitis A infection. In order to prepare for the prevention on hepatitis A outbreak in the future, we studied the clinical and epidemiologic manifestations of these patients.
METHODS
We enrolled patients from July to December in 1996 (6 months) and evaluated the monthly incidence, geographical distribution, age and sex, and clinical manfestations, including laboratory fadings.
RESULTS
Many cases of hepatitis A occured in the summer months, especially August (16/31 cases). Most of patients (87%) were living in the Seo-Ku area (northwest district of the city). In age distribution, there were no cases under 3 years of age, 3 cases from 4~5 years, 13 cases from 6~10 years, 15 cases from 11~15 years. Clinical profiles showed that dark urine, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue were the common presenting symptoms. The initial presenting laboratory tests included total bilirubin 3.3mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase of 856units/L, and serum asparate aminotransferase and alanine aminolransferase levels of 910IU/L and 1239IU/L, respectively. No patient presented atypical clinical courses or complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Hepatitis A in children shows benign clinical features. This study showed that the possibility of another outbreak of Hepatitis A in the TaeJon area or elsewhere in the near future Korea will be possible. To prevent an outbreak we will be concerned about the anti-HAV IgG prevalance rate in children and preventive modalities including vaccination against hepatitis A.

Keyword

Hepatitis A; Outbreak Epidemiology; Children

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Age Distribution
Alanine
Alkaline Phosphatase
Anorexia
Bilirubin
Child*
Daejeon*
Epidemiologic Studies*
Fatigue
Fever
Hepatitis A Antibodies
Hepatitis A*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Incidence
Korea
Nausea
Vaccination
Vomiting
Alanine
Alkaline Phosphatase
Bilirubin
Hepatitis A Antibodies
Immunoglobulin G