Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Infection among Children Who Presented With Acute Hepatitis 2nd March Hospital, South of Libya
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Date
2005
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Publisher
Sebha University
Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection among cases of acute hepatitis in children.
Sitting: 2nd March teaching hospital, Sebha, south Libya.
Materials and Methods: This was a prospective hospital-based study of all children 15 years old and less who admitted to 2nd March teaching hospital and presented with acute hepatitis during the period from March 2004 to February 2005. The children were studied for the prevalence of HBsAg and HCV Ab by Rapid technique and ELISA.
Results: The study showed positive HBsAg in 12 patients and HCV in 2 cases out 25 cases presented with acute hepatitis from a total of 1877 children 15 years old and less admitted to the paediatric department. Forty eight percentage 48% of hepatitis cases were hepatitis B virus infection and 8% were hepatitis C infection and in 11 cases (44%) not known because of unavailability of serological studies for other viruses.
Conclusion: Hepatitis B infection which is avoidable disease by immunization still causing high percentage of hepatitis cases, so restriction to immunization is mandatory. Availability of serological studies of other viruses like A is important from epidimological point of view and as the hepatitis is notifiable disease.