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Hepatitis B Surface Antigenaemia in Sickle Cell Anaemia in Kano, Nigeria.
Abstract
The seroprevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in 96 Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients (HbSS) was determined at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano between May and November, 2005 using standard method for haemoglobin electrophoresis and HBsAgTM latex agglutination test kit. The seroprevalence of HBsAg was 16.7% in HbSS, while the control subjects (HbAA) was 14.6%; but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The sex related prevalence of HBsAg in HbSS patients of 17.4% for males and 16% for females showed no statistical significant difference
(P>0.05). Six months to 10 years age range had highest prevalence of 19.2%, followed by 11 – 20 years (16.7%), 21 – 30 years (14.3%) and 31 – 40 years (0%). The study showed no statistically significant difference between HbSS and control subjects, probably due to proper pretransfusion screening for transfusion transmissible hepatitis B infection. However,
public health education, law against transfusion of any unscreened blood and blood products in every health institution and vaccination of the populace against HBV infection are recommended to curtail spread.
(P>0.05). Six months to 10 years age range had highest prevalence of 19.2%, followed by 11 – 20 years (16.7%), 21 – 30 years (14.3%) and 31 – 40 years (0%). The study showed no statistically significant difference between HbSS and control subjects, probably due to proper pretransfusion screening for transfusion transmissible hepatitis B infection. However,
public health education, law against transfusion of any unscreened blood and blood products in every health institution and vaccination of the populace against HBV infection are recommended to curtail spread.
