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UT-HOUSTON RESEARCHER RECOMMENDS IMMUNIZING INFANTS FOR HEPATITIS A
HOUSTON ? (October 27, 1997) ? A hepatitis A vaccine, already approved
for use in adults, is also proving to be effective and safe for infants,
according to a researcher at The University of Texas-Houston School of
Public Health.
Catherine L. Troisi, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences,
explained that although two hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccines are
available, they have not been evaluated widely in infancy. Neither HAV
vaccines is currently licensed for children under two years of age.
Not only was the vaccine effective, but no serious side affects
occurred. The results of the study are published in the Oct. 24 issue
of the peer-reviewed journal Vaccine.
The researchers tested the vaccine, HAVRIX, on 53 infants, who were
between the ages of six and 12 weeks when the first dose of the vaccine
was administered. All infants were given doses at two and four months
and either six or 15 months of age. Peak antibody levels in both groups
were achieved three months following the third immunization.
Troisi said that in the U.S., hepatitis A is frequently transmitted in
childcare centers because of contamination through diaper changing.
"žAlthough children under the age of three rarely exhibit symptoms, they
pass the virus on to older children or adults who do,"° Troisi
explained. "žBy immunizing infants, we can eventually protect everyone
against the disease."°
Symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, pain in the liver area
and jaundice (yellowing skin and eyes) and can last for several weeks.
Most people recover from an HAV infection without any serious health
problems, although a small percentage may experience serious
complications, such as liver failure.
Hepatitis A is one of five known viruses that cause inflammation of the
liver. It is estimated that 150,000 people in the U.S. are infected
each year, a low rate compared to underdeveloped countries. The virus
is most often transmitted by drinking water or eating food that has been
contaminated with fecal matter containing the virus. The major known
risk factors include household or sexual contact, daycare attendance or
employment, and recent international travel.
Co-authors on the study were F. Blaine Hollinger, M.D., Baylor College
of Medicine; David S. Krause, M.D., SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals;
and Larry K. Pickering, M.D., Eastern Virginia Medical School.
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The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center is dedicated to
building a model health sciences center
for the 21st century. It is a model built on education, research and
patient care devoted to the maintenance of health
and the prevention of disease. The University is located in the
world-famous Texas Medical Center
and is the state"šs most comprehensive institution of health sciences.
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