Demographic structure of the population and hepatitis A morbidity in Russia and foreign countries

Hepatitis A (HA) morbidity and the demographic structure of the population were analyzed in 44 countries of Europe and Asia in 1990-2004 and in all subjects of the Russian Federation in 2003-2006. There was the greatest proportion of children under 14 years of age among the general population of the countries with high HA morbidity rates and there was the least in those with low mortality rates. A correlation was found between the proportion of the children and HA morbidity. HA was shown to remain to be a childhood infection and, with the larger number of children in the general structure of the population, the rates of this infection morbidity substantially increase with active transmission mainly through contact and household routes in children's collective bodies. In the authors' opinion, planned vaccination of children aged 2-3 years with their further revaccination when they reach 14 years of age should be included into the National Immunization Calendar.

hepatitis A, demographic structure of the population, morbidity, immunoprophylaxis, correlation