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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Occult hepatitis B in Egyptian thalassemic children
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, Volume 6, No. 4, Year 2012
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Description
Introduction: Thalassemia is hereditary anemia which requires lifelong transfusion as treatment, and hepatitis viral infection is one of the risks of repeated transfusions. Hepatitis B outbreaks in health-care settings are still a serious public health concern worldwide. Blood samples negative for HBsAg but positive for HBV-DNA, with or without the presence of HBV antibodies, are classified as "occult" HBV infection (OBI). This study investigated the prevalence of occult HBV infection in Egyptian thalassemic children. Methodology: Eighty patients admitted to the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Hospital, were involved in this prospective study. Strict inclusion criteria were set to nullify the effect of confounding variables and further minimize selection bias. The following laboratory investigations were performed: complete blood count (CBC); serum AST and ALT; albumin; bilirubin; HBsAg; HBeAg; HBcAb; HCV-RNA; and HBV-DNA. Results: All our patients had no clinical manifestation suggestive of hepatitis. Molecular biology studies revealed positivity for HCV and HBV at 25% and 32.5% respectively. Conclusion: The estimated risk of acquiring hepatitis B and C infection in children receiving multiple blood transfusions is surprisingly high. Moreover, occult hepatitis B infection is a considerably risk. © 2012 Shaker et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Shaker, O. Gamil
Egypt, Giza
Cairo University
Ahmed, Amal A.M.
Egypt, Cairo
National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Institute
Satar, Inas Abdel
Egypt, Giza
Cairo University
El Ahl, Hamza
Egypt, Cairo
Tabarak Children's Hospital
Shousha, Wafaa Gh
Egypt, Helwan
Faculty of Science
Doss, Wahid H.
Egypt, Cairo
National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Institute
Statistics
Citations: 27
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.3855/jidc.1706
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study