Hepatitis B and C Infections among Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in a Tertiary Hospital in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B and C are hepatotropic viruses capable of causing chronic liver disease in infected individuals. Children with sickle cell anaemia are at higher risk of infection from these viruses due to their increased risk of repeated blood transfusion. No study  has been done on the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in children with HBSS within this region of Nigeria.

Aim: This study aimed to  determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and anti‑hepatitis C virus (HCV) in  children with confirmed HBSS in a steady state.

Patients, Materials and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional study. One hundred and two  children with confirmed sickle cell anaemia aged 1–17 years in the steady state attending the Paediatric Haematology Clinic of a  University Teaching Hospital were consecutively recruited into the study. Blood samples were screened for HBV markers and HCV  antibodies using immunochromatographic technique. A P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The mean age of the study  participant was 8.45 ± 4.47 years. Seroprevalence of HBV markers were hepatitis B surface antigen was 1%, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)  1% and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) was 3.1%, hepatitis B surface antibody was 26.8%, and HBeAg 1.0%. Those positive for HBcAb  were from the middle and low social classes(P = 0.041). Most of the patients (97.8%) received ≥3 doses of HBV vaccination. None of the  children was positive for HCV antibody (0%).

Conclusion: The seroprevalence rate of HBV infection was low and none of the study  participants was positive for HCV infection. The low prevalence of HBV infection and absence of HCV infection may suggest a low  prevalence of these blood-borne hepatotropic viruses among the study participants. However, the introduction of the HBV vaccination  into the National Programme of immunisation is still justifiable due to its public health significance.