Hepatitis B study finds infection links

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 38

Hepatitis B study finds infection links

PA Auckland Regular sharing of toothbrushes, towels and beds has been linked to hepatitis B infection. A study of children’s lifestyles published in the Medical Journal showed that in areas with a low prevalence of hepatitis B, the main place for crossinfection was in the home. In high prevalence areas, cross-infection was most likely to occur at school.

The original method of. transmission in New Zealand was not known but the study team of the Whakatane Hospital hepa-

titis B researcher, Sandy Milne, the Wellington Medical School community health epidemiologist, Neil Pearce and the Christchurch Medical School student, Carol Atmore, suggested contact through blood and sores was the likeliest route for spread of the virus. Sharing food contaminated with blood may also be important. Biting food deposited saliva and occasionally blood on the object, especially with hard food, such as apples. The three said a questionnaire similar to that used in Tokoroa, where bed, toothbrush and towel

sharing were positively associated with hepatitis B infection, should now be tried in an area of high prevalence. Information about tattoos, sharing of food at school, treatment of wounds, past eczema and sores and sharing of beds, toothbrushes, towels and baby bottles was sought by the questionnaire.

Environmental surfaces, including playground dust, at primary schools with high hepatitis B rates should also be sampled to assess the contribution they made to the spread of the virus, the researchers said.