Muhammad Fayaz Khan Burki, Mumtaz Hassan, Liaqat Ali, Mufti Zubair Wadood.
Frequency of Hepatitis B virus in regularly blood transfused beta thalassemia major patients.
Pak Paed J Jan ;33(3):153-6.

Background: Thalassaemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. Due to repeated blood transfusions in thalassaemic children there is a definite risk of transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS in case the blood is not adequately screened. Regularly blood transfused patients represent a major risk group for hepatitis B, C and HIV/AIDS acquirement. Objective: To study the Frequency of HBV in Regularly blood transfused Beta Thalassaemia major patients in Children Hospital, PIMS Islamabad. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive prospective study of 2 years duration from July 2005 to June 2007, conducted at Children Hospital, PIMS Islamabad. Children of 6 months to 12 years age, with beta thalassaemia major and having regular blood transfusions were enrolled. Complete history and physical examination was carried out and blood samples were collected for HBV detection. The laboratory techniques for analysis were immuno-chromatographic, and where necessary, ELISA. Results: During the study period, a total of 251 beta thalassaemia major children were enrolled. Out of these 251 children, 10 (3.9%) children were positive for HBV. Conclusion: Frequency of Hepatitis B among the Beta Thalassaemic patients has significantly decreased due to better health education, vaccination and screening methods but there is definite room for further improvement.

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