PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS, AND SYPHILIS AMONG STREET CHILDREN RESIDING IN SOUTHERN TEHRAN, IRAN

Street children are among vulnerable people in the world. They are one of the main groups in the society who affect the pattern of health. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), and syphilis among street children residing in southern Tehran, Iran. In a cross-sectional study, we selected 102 children aged below 15 years from southern Tehran. The selected children had an interview and were examined. From each child a blood sample was taken and tested for anti-HIV (ELISA), anti-HCV (ELISA), HBsAg (ELISA), anti- HBs, anti-HBc (radioimmunoassay [RIA]), rapid plasma reagin (RPR), and fluorescent treponema antibody absorption (FTA-ABS). We studied 39 (38%) boys and 63 (62%) girls, including 79 (77%) Afghan and 16 (16%) Iranian children. The nationality of 8 children could not be identified. The children were negative for syphilis, HIV, and HCV. Nevertheless, 3 of them were positive for HBsAg and 15 were HBsAb positive (>10 MIU/mL). The majority of street children are immigrants. Although these children did not have syphilis, HIV, and HCV, they are at risk of HBV.