Epidemiological, serological and molecular aspects of hepatitis B and C in children and teenagers of municipal daycare facilities schools and schools in the city of Santos

• Published in: Revista brasileira de epidemiologia Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 588 - 599
• Main Authors: Ciaccia, Maria Célia Cunha, Moreira, Regina Célia, Lemos, Marcílio Figueiredo, Oba, Isabel Takano, Porta, Gilda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 01.09.2014; Associação Brasileira de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva
• Subjects: Adolescent; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child Day Care Centers; Criança; Cross-Sectional Studies; Epidemiologia; Female; Hepatite B; Hepatite C; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis B, Chronic - epidemiology; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C, Chronic - blood; Hepatitis C, Chronic - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Prevalência; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Sorologia; Urban Health; Brazil; Hepatite C; Hepatite B; Prevalence; Prevalência; Serology; Sorologia; Epidemiologia; Hepatitis C; Child; Epidemiology; Criança; Hepatitis B
• ISSN: 1415-790X; 1980-5497; 1980-5497; 1415-790X
• DOI: 10.1590/1809-4503201400030002

To estimate the prevalence of the serological markers anti-HBc, HBsAg and anti-HBs of hepatitis B and anti-HCV of hepatitis C among children and teenagers enrolled at daycare facilities, kindergartens and municipal elementary education network in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out from June 28 to December 14, 2007, in which 4,680 finger-prick blood samples were collected from children and teenagers. A survey questionnaire was applied to their family members. The sample was dimensioned using the software Epi Info version 6 with expected frequency of 1%, acceptable error of 0.5% and confidence interval of 95%. The serological tests were performed using the ELISA technique. The molecular analysis was performed using the technique of polymerase chain reaction in House. Age of the studied population ranged from 7 months to 18 years and 1 month. The general prevalence of anti-HBc reagent was 0.1%, HBsAg was 0.02% and anti-HCV was 0.02%. In children, the general prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B and C in the city of Santos was low when compared with literature data.