• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.186-194
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• 2005

Purpose : Hepatitis A viral infections have been continued after re-emerging since mid 1990s in Korea. The incidence of this disease has been increased in young adults younger than 30 years of age since 2000. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A in Korea(two regions; Incheon and Changwon) in 2005, and was compared with the results of similar studies in mid 1990s. Methods : The study was conducted from January 2005 to June 2005, and consisted of 1,301 enrolled subjects, neonates to 50 years old, living in Incheon and Changwon in Korea. All sera were frozen and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until assayed. Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay(HAVAB, Abbott Lab., IL, USA). Results : The prevalence of anti-HAV IgG was 61.1% in infants younger than 1 year old, 30.5% in 1~5 years, 14.6% in 6~10 years, 1.7% in 11~15 years, 6.5% in 16~20 years, 36.6%in 21~30 years, 77.5% in 31~40 years, and 99.8% in 41~50 years. Statistical differences were not found between male and female, but there was statistical difference in 6~10 years old age group between the two areas. Conclusion : Our study indicate that the prevalence of antihepatitis A virus antibody has shifted from children to old adolescents and young adults. This result suggests that the risk of sudden outbreaks or increasing incidence of hepatitis A viral infections in young adults may be expected in our society. The preventive strategies of hepatitis A including vaccination should be prepared.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1095-1100
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• 2003

Purpose : Children with acute colonic diverticulitis(ACD), can be misdiagnosed with acute appendicitis. Methods : We reviewed 15 cases of ACD during five years, from January 1998 to June 2002 retrospectively. Results : Most patients(80%) with ACD in children presented with right lower quadrant pain. The primary diagnosis on admission was mostly acute appendicitis(87%), and all ACD in children occurred in the right colon. Fourteen patients were managed by conservative treatment including antibiotics. A follow-up study was performed in 15 patients. There were symptomatic recurrences in two patients, but no significant complication was noted. The frequency of ACD was 11.7 per 1000 acute appendicitis. Conclusion : ACD in children can mostly be cured by conservative treatment. It is prudent to choose the management through the diagnostic work up, including abdominal sonography and computed tomography, because there was no significant difference of clinical findings between ACD and acute appendicitis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.318-322
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• 2014

Chlamydophila pneumonia is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia throughout the world. It causes mild pneumonia or bronchitis in adolescents and young adults. Older adults may experience more severe disease and repeated infections. To the best of our knowledge, no study has attempted to investigate the prevalence of C. pneumonia in a closed community in Korea. We compared the infection rate of C. pneumonia among university dormitory residents using the miro-immunofluorescence (MIF) method. Antibody titers of IgG (1:32 or more) indicate past infection of C. pneumonia. A recent infection was defined as serum with a high titer of IgG (1:512 or more) or a positive IgM (1:16 or more). The past infection rate of C. pneumonia among the university dormitory residents was 71.7%. The recent infection rate of C. pneumonia according to IgG and IgM titers was 28.3% and 23.3%, respectively. The past infection positive rate according to the number of residence months was 1 month (50%), 7 months (71.4%), 13 months (66.7%), and 35 months (89.5%). The recent infection positive rate according to IgG antibody titers was 1 month (50%), 7 months (28.6%), 13 months (33.3%), and 35 months (10.5%). The recent infection rate of C. pneumonia according to IgM antibody titers was 1 month (41.7%), 7 months (28.6%), 13 months (26.7%), and 35 months (5.3%). The results suggest that the past infection rate of C. pneumonia is increased by the number of residence months in a closed community and that the recent infection rate of C. pneumonia according to IgG and IgM serological tests is decreased by the number of residence months.