Seroprevalence of antibodies against hepatitis a (anti-HAV) in Singapore: the NFDD experience
Fock, K.M.; Tay, H.H.; Phua, K.B.; Guan, R.; Chia, S.C.; Chong, R.; Chee, A.E.; Chew, C.N.
Singapore Medical Journal 36(1): 26-27
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-5675 PMID: 7570129 Document Number: 442378
At the 4th National Foundation for Digestive Disease (NFDD) Day in 1991 where public lectures on prevention of hepatitis and early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma were given, screening of sera obtained from 364 registrants for antibodies to Hepatitis A (IgG) was undertaken. The overall sero-prevalence rate was 50%, with 55% for males and 46% for females with antibodies for HAV. None of the subjects below 20 years old had antibodies to HAV. This rose to 16% for those 21-30 years old and 92% for those above 61 years. This study shows that in Singapore, prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies rise with age and is approaching the low endemicity pattern that is seen in developed countries.