Abstract

This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A among children aged 1-16 years in eastern region of Turkey. The study was conducted at Tunceli State Hospital in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were evaluated among 351 patients admitted to our pediatric policlinic. Anti-HAV IgM and Anti-HAV IgG serologic markers were determined using the ELISA method. The mean age of 351 pediatric patients was 7.5±4.2; of these, 198 (56.4%) were male and 153 (43.6%) were female. A total of 305 (86.9%) cases in this study were seronegative against hepatitis A. Anti-HAV IgG was positive among 46 (13.1%) patients, of these 22 (47.8%) were male and 24 (52.2%) were female. The mean age of seropositive cases was 8.4±4.8. Anti-HAV IgM seropositivity was not detected in the study. The application of a routine hepatitis A vaccine among children will reduce the potential for the development of severe complications.

Key words: Hepatitis A, seroprevalence, children, vaccination.