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Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Infants and Children in Japan
Author(s) -
Koike Michio,
Kobayashi Masakazu,
Sumiyama Keiichiro
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1986.tb00727.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transmission (telecommunications) , incidence (geometry) , hbeag , hepatitis b virus , hbsag , pediatrics , horizontal transmission , epidemiology , infection rate , hepatitis b , virology , virus , surgery , physics , optics , electrical engineering , engineering
Abstract An epidemiological study done with 4,537 of so‐called “hospital normal” children between January 1979 and April 1982 is reviewed [2, 3]. The number of HBsAg positive carriers is 35 (0.77%) and anti‐HBs positive rate is 1.7%. The average HBeAg positive rate of 81 HBV carriers is 67%, which represents 100% in 0‐year‐old babies and rapidly decreases to 50% in 10‐year‐old children. Estimation of the route of transmission is done in index cases of HBV carriers after thorough examination of their family members. The ratio of horizontal to vertical transmission is 50:50, suggesting the rapid decrease of the incidence of the horizontal route since 1980. The course of HBV carriers is followed and it is found that carriers derived from vertical transmission give rise to a more troublesome prognosis. Other Japanese literature is also reviewed.