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Markers of hepatitis B virus infection in schoolchildren in the Kimberley, Western Australia
Author(s) -
Gill Jag S,
Hatton Mike,
Carey Marion,
Quadros Caetano F
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb125461.x
Subject(s) - hepatitis b virus , hbsag , transmission (telecommunications) , hepatitis b , serology , medicine , vaccination , virology , virus , confidence interval , immunization , immunology , demography , antibody , sociology , electrical engineering , engineering
In 1986 the Aboriginal community in Western Australia was identified as a high‐risk group for hepatitis B virus infection. An immunization programme was commenced in 1988 but concerns were expressed about horizontal transmission, especially in schools, to the low‐risk Caucasian group and whether they should also be included in the vaccination programme. To estimate the extent of this occurrence, a survey of schoolchildren from two district high schools in Broome and Derby in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia was carried out in March 1989. A total of 607 students aged 4 to 19 years were included in the study. None of the 300 Caucasian students had any serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection (95% confidence interval (Cl) upper limit, 1.3%). Eighteen children were found to be seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); 17 were Aboriginal and one Asian. In addition, 61 Aboriginal students and one Asian had hepatitis B surface antibody (antiHBs). The hepatitis B virus infection rate in these Aboriginal children is 28.2% (95% Cl, 23.2%‐ 33.7%) with a carrier rate of 6.1% (95% Cl, 3.9%‐9.6%). This study demonstrates that Caucasian students have a very low risk of infection with hepatitis B virus in this community, and there is therefore no need to extend the hepatitis B vaccination programme beyond the already identified high‐risk groups.