Epidemiology of childhood hepatitis B in India: Vaccination related issues |
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Authors: | Lalit Kant Andrew J Hall |
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Institution: | (1) Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, 110 029 New Delhi;(2) Communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London |
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Abstract: | It has been estimated that presently hepatitis B kills more people every day than AIDS kills in a year world-wide. Infection
with hepatitis B produces a wide range of manifestations ranging from asymptomatic carriers to persistent infections leading
to chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Availability of effective and safe vaccine has made all this preventable.
To formulate on appropriate vaccination strategy for India the epidemiology of hepatitis B needs to be defined. This report
critically reviews the available data. The burden of long term sequelae of HBV infection is probably under-diagnosed and under-reported
in India. Prevalence studies of HBV markers indicate that India falls under the area of intermediate endemicity. Limited data
on agespecific prevalence of HBV markers suggests that the majority of the infection seems to take place below 15 years of
age, and most of it under one year. Perinatal transmission appears to contribute significantly to the carrier pool. Childhood
vaccination for HB among the general population is the obvious strategy of choice. But more information is required to decide
on the timing of the first dose. |
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Keywords: | Childhood hepatitis B Epidemiology Vaccination strategy |
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