Hepatitis A Virus: Is Vaccination Necessary in Middle East?

Abstract

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a self-limiting disease caused by a 27-nm RNA virus from the picorna virus family. Its' transmission is primarily via the fecal-oral route. The disease is usually mild and anicteric in children, however the rate of the icteric form, severity, and mortality increase in adult life. The estimated case-fatality rate in age over 40 years is approximately 2%, while this rate is less than 0.1% in the pediatric age group. Improvements in sanitation and hygiene will decrease the rate of infection and subsequent acquired immunity in the pediatric population which will increase the susceptibility to infection. Therefore the burden of disease will be increased in young age and adulthood.