Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Croatia
According to the World Health Organization, viral hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and is the cause of death of 1.5 million people each year, mainly from hepatitis B and C. Croatia is a country with low prevalence of viral hepatitis. The incidence of hepatitis A in Croatia has shown a continuous and stable decline with only seven cases recorded in 2014, and the disease is practically in front of elimination. As for hepatitis B infection, Croatia is among the countries with low prevalence. Following the introduction of vaccination against hepatitis B there has been a drop in the incidence of newly discovered acute hepatitis B and HBsAg carriers. Immunization against hepatitis B was introduced in 1992 and for years was mandatory for persons at increased risk. Vaccination of adolescents was introduced in 1999, and since 2007 mandatory vaccination is carried out within the first year of birth. The incidence of hepatitis C is also in decline, though not as pronouncedly as hepatitis B, as a result of a reduction in the incidence of injecting drug users. In Croatia, hepatitis D has not been reported while hepatitis E occurs occasionally, usually as an imported disease.
Key words:
Croatia; epidemiology; hepatitis; hepatitis B
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