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The immune status of Singapore children to hepatitis B virus
Author(s) -
QUAK S. H.,
SINGH R.,
OON C. J.,
WONG H. B.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1983.tb02067.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis b , immune status , hepatitis b virus , immune system , virus , hepatitis , immunology , pediatrics , gastroenterology
. In a cross‐sectional survey of hepatitis B immune status, 458 consecutive children below the age of 12 years were studied. 37.3% of these children were positive for one of the three markers, HB s Ag, anti‐HB s or anti‐HB c . 15.5% were positive for two and 1.3% were positive for all three. 10.9% were positive for HB s Ag, 27.8% for anti‐HB c and 19.6% for anti‐HB 2 . The males showed a higher HB s Ag carrier rate than the females, 13.5% and 6.8% respectively. This difference was significant (p<0.05). This study confirmed that the Singaporeans were exposed to hepatitis B virus infection from very early in life and in order to prevent the infection, immunisation should be considered in early childhood.