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A seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis a in Spanish children. Relationship of prevalence to age and socio-environmental factors

Seroepidemiologische Studie zu Hepatitis A bei spanischen Kindern. Beziehung zwischen Prävalenz, Alter und Milieufaktoren

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Summary

Three child population groups from the Madrid area were studied for anti-HAV antibodies. Analysis was carried out with respect to age and socio-environmental factors. The population under study was composed of 156 children, with ages ranging from 1 to 14 years; they were stratified in three socio-environmental groups (white-family unit, gypsy-family unit and orphanage), and also divided into subgroups according to age. As a whole, an age-related increase in prevalence was found. The overall seroprevalence by socio-environmental groups was: gypsy-family unit 63%, orphanage 46%, and white-family unit 23%. Significant differences between groups appeared from seven years on, being more marked among the eldest subgroups. Among the factors evaluated, hygienic-sanitary conditions and overcrowding influenced the high prevalence rate found in the gypsy-family unit subjects, whereas overcrowding appeared to be responsible for the higher prevalence in orphanage residents, as compared to white-family unit children.

Zusammenfassung

Kinder aus der Region von Madrid, die drei Bevölkerungsgruppen angehören, wurden auf anti-HAV-Antikörper untersucht und Beziehungen zwischen Prävalenz, Alter und Milieufaktoren analysiert. Die Gruppe bestand aus 156 Kindern im Alter von 1 bis 14 Jahren. Sie gehörten drei Gruppen mit unterschiedlichen sozialen Gegebenheiten an: in der Familie lebende weiße Kinder, in der Familie lebende Zigeunerkinder und Waisenkinder. Die Analyse nach Altersgruppen zeigte einen deutlichen altersabhängigen Anstieg der Seroprävalenz mit signifikant höheren Infektionsraten in den Altersgruppen 7–14 als bei 1–6jährigen. Die Durchseuchung mit Hepatitis A war in den Zigeunerfamilien am höchsten (63%), gefolgt von Waisenkindern (46%) und weissen Kindern, die in Familien leben (23%). Für die Zigeunerkinder wurden unzureichende sanitäre Verhältnisse und Übervölkerung der Wohnräume als wichtige Einflußfaktoren identifiziert. Bei Waisenkindern wird angenommen, daß enge räumliche Verhältnisse für die im Vergleich zu den in Familien lebenden Kindern höhere Seroprävalenz verantwortlich sind.

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Morales, J.L., Huber, L., Gallego, S. et al. A seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis a in Spanish children. Relationship of prevalence to age and socio-environmental factors. Infection 20, 194–196 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02033057

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