All issues > Volume 37(6); 1994

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1994;37(6):804-811. Published online June 15, 1994.

Prevalence of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Antibody in Korean Children

Sei Ho SH Oh¹, Young Ah YA Lee¹, Woong Young WY Moon¹, Tae Sun TS Won¹, Young Seo YS Park¹, Hyung Nam HN Moon¹, Chang Yee CY Hong¹, Dae Won DW Kim²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Recently, cases with typical clinical manifestations of infectious mononucleosis are increasing in Korea. So, to evaluate the recent epidemiology of EBV infection in Korea, we performed EBV serologic antibody tests for IgG antibody to EBV-viral capsid antigen (VCA) and antibody to EBV-associated nuclear antigen (EBNA) among the 108 healthy Korean infants and children whose ages were from newborn to 15 years old. And the results were as follows; 1) The positive rates of anti-VCA IgG 100% in newborn, 90% in 2 to 6 months, 20% in 7 to 12 months, 60% in 1 to 2 years, 77.3% in 3 to 4 years, 88.5% in 5 to 6 years, 90% in 7 to 9 years, and 100% in 10 to 15 years of age, respectively. 2) The anti-VCA IgG titers ranged from 1:20 to 1:1280 3) The positive rates of anti-EBNA were 100% in newborn, 60% in 2 to 6 months, 10% in 7 to 12 months, 60% in 1 to 2 years, 68.2% in 3 to 4 years, 84.5% in 5 to 6 years, 70% in 7 to 9 years, and 100% in 10 to 15 years of age, respectively. 4) The anti-EBNA titers ranged from 1:2 to 1:128. According to these data, the age of primary infection of EBV has increased compared to the previous data in Korean children.

Keywords :Epstein-Barr virus, Antibody, Korean children