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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 28, 2014; 20(24): 7635-7643
Published online Jun 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i24.7635
Epidemiology of acute and chronic hepatitis B and delta over the last 5 decades in Italy
Evangelista Sagnelli, Caterina Sagnelli, Mariantonietta Pisaturo, Margherita Macera, Nicola Coppola
Evangelista Sagnelli, Mariantonietta Pisaturo, Margherita Macera, Nicola Coppola, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Caterina Sagnelli, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery "F. Magrassi e A. Lanzara", Second University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this work, designed the study and wrote the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Evangelista Sagnelli, Professor, Department of Mental Health and Public Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Via: L. Armanni 5, 80131 Naples, Italy. evangelista.sagnelli@yahoo.com
Telephone: +39-81-5666719 Fax: +39-81-5666013
Received: October 25, 2013
Revised: January 28, 2014
Accepted: April 8, 2014
Published online: June 28, 2014
Processing time: 244 Days and 16.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Although an impressive reduction in the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection has been observed over the last few decades, these infections are still a heavy burden for the Italian Health Care System. This review article analyzes these epidemiological variations in relation to the changing impact of the single risk factors for the acquisition of both infections and to the most important socio-economic events contributing to the progression to lower levels of HBV and HDV endemicity. The paper also identifies strategies for maintaining and possibly further reducing the low level of endemicity reached in recent years.