Epidemiology of Acute Viral Hepatitis: Twenty Years of Surveillance through SEIEVA in Italy and a Review of the Literature (Epidemiologia Dell'epatite Virale Acuta: Venti Anni di Sorveglianza del SEIEVA in Italia e Rassegna della Letteratura)

摘要

SEIEVA (Sistema Epidemiologico Integrato dell'Epatite Virale Acuta: Integrated Epidemiological System of Acute Viral Hepatitis) was created in 1985 at the Istituto Superiore di Sanita and started its full activity in 1986. This report is published on the occasion of twenty years of surveillance. The report deals with SEIEVA methods and the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Italy and worldwide. The Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) circulation progressively decreased in Italy and nowadays most of people younger than 40 years lack anti-HAV immunity. In Southern regions, the ingestion of contaminated seafood still causes large outbreaks. Voyagers to endemic countries and drug addicted are also at increased risk of infection. The incidence of symptomatic hepatitis A is approximately 2-3/100,000/year in interepidemic periods. The impact of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Italy is on the decline. Currently, the incidence of symptomatic acute hepatitis B is <2/100,000/year, the prevalence of HBsAg is <2%, and the estimated incidence and prevalence of HCV chronic infection are approximately4-5/100,000/year and approximately3%, respectively. Drug abuse, promiscuous sexual activity, invasive medical procedures, and beauty treatments are the major causes of HBV and HCV spread.