Current status of liver diseases in Korea: Hepatitis A.
10.3350/kjhep.2009.15.S6.S7
- Author:
So Young KWON
1
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sykwonmd@hotmail.com
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Hepatitis A;
Epidemiology;
Korea
- MeSH:
Adult;
Child;
Hepatitis A/*epidemiology/immunology/prevention & control;
Hepatitis A Vaccines/administration & dosage;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea/epidemiology;
Seroepidemiologic Studies
- From:The Korean Journal of Hepatology
2009;15(Suppl 6):S7-S12
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The seroprevalence of anti-HAV (hepatitis A virus) has been decreasing in Korea. The decrease in HAV infection in young adults has resulted in the reduction of individuals with protective antibody and an increase in hepatitis A in the adult population. The increase in HAV infection in adults will have an impact on the magnitude and severity of the disease. In Korea, symptomatic hepatitis A has been gradually increasing since the mid-1990s, with a tendency toward an increase in mean age and disease severity. The endemic genotype of HAV in Korea has been changing from genotype IA alone to a mixture of genotype IA and IIIA. Therefore, preventive measures including universal vaccination in infants and active immunization of the adult population should be considered.
