All issues > Volume 38(11); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(11):1535-1539. Published online November 15, 1995.

Prevalence and Its Changes of Hepatitis B Viral Markers from 1988 to 1993 in Korean Children

Jae Geon JG Sim¹, Jeong Kee JK Seo¹, Seong Jae SJ Suh¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanllym University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: Hepatitis B infection is prevalent in Korea and active immunization of Hepatitis B has been proceeded intensively during the last decade. This study was designed to evaluate the changes of the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and that of antibody (HBsAb) in Korean children from 1988 to 1993. We can estimate the prevalence and tendency of hepatitis B infection and can evaluate the policy on hepatitis B with this study.
Methods
: HBsAg and HBsAb were measured with enzyme immunoassay and 332,870 Korean children aged 6 to 17 years old were enrolled in this study.
Results
: HBsAb was 21.7% in 1988, and was doubled to 54.1% in 1993. HBsAg was 3.2% in 1988 and was 2.6% in 1993. Its decrease was statistically significant.
Conclusion
: HBsAg was not highly prevalent in Korean children compared to previous reports. The prevalence of HBsAg in Korean children has been gradually decreased, while that of HBsAb was increased remarkably, that might result from extensive vaccination. Hepatitis B infection could be controlled with intensive universal vaccination.

Keywords :HBsAg, HBsAb, Children, Vaccination