Clinical and edidemiological studies on hepatitis B in children.

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Abstract
Sera from children with various clinical categories of hepatitis were examined for hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen (Ag) by radioimmunoassay and for antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) by the passive hemagglutination test. Frequencies of HBsAg and anti-HBs in 56 cases of acute hepatitis were 55% (31/56) and 11% (6/56), respectively. All of 4 patients with chronic hepatitis had persistent HBs antigenemia. In infants under the age of 6 mo. HBs Ag was detected in 2 each of 31 cases of neonatal hepatitis and of 15 cases of anicteric hepatitis. The data suggest the importance of HB virus as an etiologic agent of acute and chronic hepatitis in children in Japan, although other agents may be responsible for hepatitis in early infancy. Anti-HBs Ab was detected in 15% of a group of children aged 3-5 yr in Rishiri Island and in 12% of children aged 6-9 yr in Sapporo City. Frequency increased gradually through school age in both areas. Thus, HB virus infection seems to be common in children from urban and rural areas of Hokkaido district.

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