China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Humans

Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Public Health Practice

Carrier State ; immunology ; prevention & control ; China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Vaccination

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Vaccination

Hepatitis B ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Humans

China ; epidemiology ; Education, Medical, Continuing ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Vaccination

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Vaccination

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been a major global cause of morbidity and mortality. The recognition of the problem led to a worldwide effort to reduce transmission of HBV through routine infant vaccination. HBV infection is the most common cause of chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea. After hepatitis B vaccine era, seroprevalence of hepatits B surface antigen is decreasing, particularly in children. Hepatitis B vaccine is remarkably safe and shows high immunogenicity. Universal childhood immunization with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine in the first year of life is a highly effective method for prevention and control of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B/*epidemiology/immunology/*prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood/immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology/therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics/immunology ; Humans ; Vaccination

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To understand the epidemiological features of viral hepatitis, and provide scientific evidence for developing strategies for prevention and control.

<b>METHODSb>Through descriptive epidemiological methodology, the epidemiological characteristics of 1121 viral hepatitis cases in Chongwen District (1997-2006) were studied. chi2-test was used in ratio comparison.

<b>RESULTSb>There were 1121 viral hepatitis cases occurring in the past decade, and the incidence rate was declining by year with the average of 27.10/ 100,000. Of which, the incidence rate of viral hepatitis B was the highest (13.90/ 100,000), viral hepatitis C (1.38/100,000) was the lowest. The proportion of viral hepatitis B was the highest (575, 51.29%) and viral hepatitis C (57, 5.08%) was the lowest. The incidence of viral hepatitis A, B and no-typing was declining year by year, while viral hepatitis C and E was climbing. Most viral hepatitis A and E cases occurred in Spring and Winter, and the difference of incidence rate between male and female was observed (chi2 = 188.39, P < 0.001). The findings also showed that viral hepatitis might occur in all kind of occupation, but most were workers (306, 27.3%) and officers (209, 18.64%). For the age distribution, 20 -49 years old group took the majority (749, 66.82%); and for the transmission route, blood transfusion (7.64/ 100,000) was significantly higher than fecal-oral route (3.02/ 100,000) (chi2 = 5.09, P < 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>It is necessary to raise and increase the public awareness for viral hepatitis prevention and control, and enhance immunization. Moreover, effective measures should be taken to the safety of blood and blood products, and to prevent nosocomial infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis A ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health issue because of its severe sequelae. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV is critical to eliminate chronic HBV infection. Here, we reviewed the progress toward the elimination of HBV infection in children in China in the recent decade. A universal hepatitis B vaccination program started from 2002 has been intensified, with the coverage of timely birth dose >95% of all newborn infants from 2012. Since 2011, China has taken a nationwide program to administer hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) with free of charge in all neonates of HBV-infected mothers, leading to a significant increment of timely use of HBIG. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was declined from around 10% among children in 1980s to <0.5% among children born after 2011. Administration of oral antiviral agents in HBV-infected pregnant women with HBV DNA >2 × 105 U/mL during the third trimester is increasing, which will further reduce MTCT of HBV. However, there are some challenges in the elimination of HBV infection in children, which need to overcome by the concerted efforts. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that China will achieve the goal set by the World Health Organization that the prevalence of HBsAg in children aged <5 years is ≤0.1% by 2030.
China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Hepatitis B/prevention & control* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology*