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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on August 10, 2005
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/cki145
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Article

Prevalence of hepatitis A among drug users in north-eastern Italy

Fabio Lugoboni 1*, Gianluca Quaglio 1, Benedetta Pajusco 1, Maurizio Foroni 2, Gianstefano Blengio 2, Giorgio Talamini 3, Paolo Mezzelani 1*, and Don C. Des Jarlais 4

1 Medical Service for Addictive Disorders, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
2 Department of Hygiene and Public Health, ASL 22 Villafranca, Verona, Italy
3 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
4 Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Paolo Mezzelani, E-mail: paolo.mezzelani{at}univr.it


  Abstract

Background: The authors report on the prevalence of, and risk factors for, hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a group of drug users in Italy. Methods: 404 heroin users were recruited and compared with a control group of 107 subjects in the general population. Results: Drug users born in north-eastern Italy have a prevalence of anti-HAV similar to the control group. A much higher prevalence was found in drug users born in southern Italy. Conclusion: The similar prevalence of anti-HAV in drug users born in north-eastern Italy and in the general population, suggests that their lifestyle does not involve a substantial additional risk of HAV. The much higher prevalence found in drug users born in southern Italy is more likely to be related to infection during infancy.

Keywords: HAV infection; heroin users; HAV vaccination.
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