We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN PEDIATRIC POPULATION - DATA FROM A TERTIARY CENTRE IN NORTH-EASTERN ROMANIA.
- Authors
Forna, Lorenza; Bozomitu, Laura; Cojocariu, Camelia; Anton, Carmen; Girleanu, Irina; Trifan, Anca
- Abstract
Background & Aim. Despite significant progress regarding the management of chronic HBV infection in the last decade, this global health problem still remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in both children and adults also. Among pediatric population the main route of infection is the vertical transmission which underpins the need for HVB vaccination in new-borns from infected mothers. Although there are many studies that have investigated the risk factors for HBV infection in infants, data from our country is very scarce and an urgent update on epidemiology is needed. Thus, we aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection among pediatric population in a tertiary centre from North-Eastern Romania. Material and Methods. The study included consecutive patients which were diagnosed with HBV infection in the "Sf. Maria" Clinical Emergency Children's Hospital, Iasi, Romania and were investigated between January 1st 2011 - December 31st 2019. A cohort of 100 randomly selected healthy controls were matched 1:1 based on same age and sex. Results. We retrospectively analysed 97 pediatric patients, of which 49 (50.5%) were boys and 48 (49.5%) were girls, with a mean age at diagnosis of HBV of 6.2 ± 2.9 years. 42 patients (55%) were born from HBsAg positive mothers; 25% received hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth, and 38 received complete vaccination afterwards. Of the 55 children born of HBV-negative mothers, only 21 (38%) received three doses of HBV vaccine as infants. Overall, spontaneous HBe seroconversion was documented in 12 (12.3%) patients and posttreatment seroconversion in 7 (7%) patients. Among the control subjects, the rate of complete vaccination against HBV infection was 89%. At univariate analysis, a family history of HBV infection, surgical procedures, lack of complete vaccination were significant risk factors for HBV infection (p<0.001 each). The multivariable logistic regression analysis that having an HBV-infected mother and a history of blood transfusion are significant risk factors associated with HBV infection. Conclusions. Prevention of vertical transmission of HBV infection is possible, but it is necessary to have a specific management of each individual case. The risk factors associated with HBV infection need to be acknowledged and managed by clinicians on a caseby-case manner in order to lower the morbidity and mortality associated with HBV infection. Awareness regarding the need of HBV vaccination is urgent and should be raised at the national level.
- Subjects
ROMANIA; HEPATITIS B; DISEASE risk factors; CHILD patients; VERTICAL transmission (Communicable diseases); HEPATITIS B vaccines; LOGISTIC regression analysis
- Publication
Journal of Gastrointestinal & Liver Diseases, 2023, Vol 32, p7
- ISSN
1841-8724
- Publication type
Article