Prevalence of hepatitis markers in Roman children.

A random sample of sera from children admitted over a 23-month period to a large paediatric hospital in Rome for diagnoses believed unrelated to viral hepatitis, was tested for HBsAG, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HAV. No sex or area of residence differences were found. The prevalence for markers of prior hepatitis B infection in children aged 1-12 years was 6.5%, in agreement with other observations in Italy and European countries. Prevalence of anti-HAV among children age 1-12 admitted for diagnoses believed unrelated to viral hepatitis was 10%. Prevalence of hepatitis markers in Roman women of reproductive age is estimated as 23.5 for B and 68.2 for A.