Hepatitis A in Scotland — Is it a Continuing Problem?

Abstract

The prevalence of anti-HAV in blood donors in West Scotland and in children admitted to a Glasgow hospital was determined. By the age of five years, 16% of the children had antibody and at 15 years, 30%. In adults, prevalence continued to rise with age, with 78% of those over 40 years showing evidence of past infection. Cases of acute hepatitis A in West Scotland have declined since 1983. At present the peak age group for infection is 25–34 years whereas in the early 80s the peak group was five to 14 years.