Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Children Admitted to Pediatric Surgery Policlinic
Objective: Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C seroprevalence were analyzed in children at the age range of 0-16 who consulted to Mardin State Hospital Pediatric Surgery Polyclinic.
Methods: Between January-December 2007, 307 children referred to pediatric surgery polyclinics, HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc IgM, anti-HBc IgG and anti-HCV seropositivity was evaluated by ELISA. Children were divided into two groups according to their ages. The children at the age range of 0-9 and born after the application of the “National Hepatitis B Vaccine Programme” (NHBVP), having been implemented since 1998 in our country, were taken in the first group (G-1). To the second group (G-2), were the children at the age range of 10-16 and born before the application of NHBVP taken. The statistical analyses of the data of G-1 and G-2 were conducted by SPSS 13.0 for Windows Version programme.
Results: Of the children, 245 (79.8%) were male, 62 (20.2%) were female and mean ages were 5.2 ±3.7 years. Of these, 241 (78.5%) were in G-1 group, 66 (21.5%) were in G-2 group. Of the cases, 136 (44.3%) were seronegative against HBV, and 161 (52.4%) were detected isolated anti-HBs positivity. Ten cases became seropositive after naturally to be exposed with HBV. Of these, five were anti-HBs and anti-HBc IgG positive, and the other five were HBsAg and anti-HBc IgG positive. When compared the serologies of G-1 and G-2, after NHBVP, a statically significant decreasing was detected of carriage and natural immunity of HBV (p=0.002) and increasing isolated anti-HBs positivity (p=0.0001) due to vaccination. In this study wasn’t detected anti-HCV positive case.
Conclusion: In this study, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C seroprevalence rates are in accordance with general population rates. Although NHBVP application is effective in Mardin, it is not sufficient yet. The people are to be made conscious of HBV vaccination

Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Seroprevalence Vaccination Children