[Prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in selected groups of children].

Hepatitis A is a significant endemic and epidemic disease of global importance. There are few studies on the epidemiology of hepatitis A in Poland. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV IgG) in children and adolescents living in urban and rural areas. Sera from 377 children were collected: 195 lived in Warsaw and 182 in rural area (voyevodship opolskie). The prevalence of anti-HAV was very low--9.3% and 3.8% respectively. This finding suggest that epidemiological shift from intermediate to low endemicity is possible in Poland and a new policy of prophylaxis hepatitis A may be necessary.