Present epidemiological pattern of antibody to hepatitis A virus among Chiang Mai children, Northern Thailand

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common in Southeast Asia, and most of the inhabitants acquire a lifelong immunity as a result of natural infection during childhood. However, the age-specific seroprevalence is changing with development of socioeconomic and hygiene status in this area and the infection is predicted to shift to adulthood with more severe clinical manifestations in the future. In this study, we report the present epidemiological pattern of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. The overall prevalence rate of anti-HAV was 9.6% (11.4% in female and 7.5% in male children, and 10.8% in urban and 8.9% in rural schoolchildren, respectively). Our study, comparing with previous reports from other parts in Thailand, indicates a steady decline of anti-HAV prevalence among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai area, and discussed a possibility of an outbreak of HAV infection among urban schoolchildren.