In Kazakhstan, for years of independence, the incidence of viral hepatitis A among children has decreased more than 308 times

Thanks to a wide coverage of the population with vaccination, improved water quality and improved sanitary literacy of citizens over the past 25 years, the incidence of viral hepatitis A among children in Kazakhstan has decreased by 308.5 times. In 2015, 140 cases of hepatitis A among children under the age of 14 were registered (the figure per 100,000 population was 3.08), compared to 43201 in 1991 (807 per 100,000 population). Also in 2015, 358 cases of hepatitis A among the adult population were registered (the incidence rate per 100 thousand population was 2.07), compared with 55,662 cases in 1991 (the figure per 100 thousand population was 331.1).

Hepatitis A (Botkin’s disease) is an acute infectious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, which spreads mainly when consumed by uninfected (or unvaccinated) human food or water contaminated with feces of an infected person. The disease is closely related to the lack of safe water, inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene.

Most often, children with hepatitis A get infected through dirty hands. That’s why this form of hepatitis is called “a disease of unwashed hands”.

The incubation period averages 35 days (range 7-50 days).

In 99% of people recover, but 1% can be fatal. Complications are typical for adults, registered in individuals with any liver disease of viral and non-viral etiology.

To prevent infection, you must follow the rules of personal hygiene, drink only purified water, and also wash fruits and vegetables with boiled water.

Also one of the methods of preventing the disease is immunization. According to epidemiological evidence, vaccination against viral hepatitis A is administered to children in regions with high morbidity due to the resources of local executive bodies.