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. 2007 Jun 27:7:64.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-7-64.

Serology based disease status of Pakistani population infected with hepatitis B virus

Muhammad Masroor Alam  1 , Soahil Zahoor Zaidi, Salman Akbar Malik, Asif Naeem, Shahzad Shaukat, Salmaan Sharif, Mehar Angez, Anis Khan, Javed Aslam Butt
Affiliations

Serology based disease status of Pakistani population infected with hepatitis B virus

Muhammad Masroor Alam et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: The infection rate of hepatitis B virus is continuously increasing in Pakistan. Therefore, a comprehensive study of epidemiological data is the need of time.

Methods: A total of 1300 individuals were screened for HBV infection markers including HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBcAg. The association of these disease indicators was compared with patients' epidemiological characteristics like age, socio-economic status and residential area to analyze and find out the possible correlation among these variables and the patients disease status.

Results: 52 (4%) individuals were found positive for HBsAg with mean age 23.5 +/- 3.7 years. 9.30%, 33.47% and 12% individuals had HBeAg, antibodies for HBsAg, and antibodies for HBcAg respectively. HBsAg seropositivity rate was significantly associated (p = 0.03) with the residing locality indicating high infection in rural areas. Antibodies titer against HBsAg decreased with the increasing age reflecting an inverse correlation.

Conclusion: Our results indicate high prevalence rate of Hepatitis B virus infection and nationwide vaccination campaigns along with public awareness and educational programs are needed to be practiced urgently.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency of HBsAg and Anti-HBsAg seropositivity among various age groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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