Abstract
Each year about 5000 Korean children are adopted by American families. We began screening for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) following HBV infections in two families in which recently adopted Korean children were found to be HBsAg carriers. We evaluated, using a radioimmunoassay, 884 abandoned or released children ≥ 3 months of age from an adoption agency in Seoul, Korea, 2 weeks prior to U.S. arrival. Rescreening of all children was recommended within 6 months of their arrival. A questionnaire was sent to determine whether rescreening had been performed and if test results differed from Korean findings. HBsAg positive tests(+) were found in 4.53%(40/884). Sex was not a factor, but a greater percentage (%) of HBsAg(+) children were > 1 year of age compared with the total % tested (37.5% vs 21.9%, p <.04). A weak positive correlation [.211, p >.05] existed between month of arrival and number of HBsAg(+) children. Of children > 1 year of age with HBsAg (+), 12/15 had been abandoned compared with 4/23 children ≤1 year of age (p<.001). Families of the first 645 children were sent questionnaires; 375 (58%) responded. Of those HBsAg(+), 15/17 were retested; 13 remained HBsAg(+). Of those HBsAg(−), 160 were retested; 3/160 were HBsAg(+)[1.9%]. Testing of all adopted Korean children for HBV should be done to diminish risk of potential virus transmission.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Murray, D., Lynch, M. & Cho, B. HEPATITIS B VIRUS (HBV) AND AMERICAN ADOPTION OF KOREAN CHILDREN: RESULTS OF SCREENING. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 260 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00556
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00556