[Prevalence of hepatitis caused by A, B and D virus in children].

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence due to hepatitis A, B and D viruses infection in children. A total of 286 children from Madrid area with ages ranging between 0 and 13 years were included. The sample was randomized with respect to the sex and age referring to the total population of Madrid. The anti-HAV was positive in 15.16% of cases, with an increasing lineal correlation with age. Any marker of HBV infection was found in 6.6% and HBsAg in 1.4%. There was an exponential correlation between the carrier state and the age, with a maximum at the first year and diminishing thereafter with age. The 21% of the cases with positive HBV-markers were HBsAg carriers. A predominant perinatal and intrafamiliar transmission of HBV was detected. Our results indicate a intermediate prevalence of HBV infection in Spain, suggesting the importance of HBsAg detection in pregnant women. None of the HBV-infected cases had anti-HD.