HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION IN INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN NIGERIA - NEED FOR EARLY INTERVENTION

One or more serologic markers of hepatitis B were detected in serum samples from 29 of 61 (48%)Nigerian children between ages 6 months and 2 years who were followed for three months. Eight (13%) had acute infections, nine (15%) had chronic infections, and 12 (20%) had transplacentally acquired maternal antibody. Of 17 with active hepatitis B, 13 had been infected prior to the first serum sample (76% of infections) and four were infected during the three months of this study (24% of infections). These data indicate that effective intervention at an early age would have prevented 24% of the HBV infections which occurred in these infants, and intervention soon after birth might have prevented all of the cases. © 1979 The C. V. Mosby Company.