Zaigham Abbas, Lubna Shazi, Wasim Jafri.
Prevalence of Hepatitis B in individuals screened during a countrywide.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;16(7):495.

This is a letter to the Editor. During October 2003, a vaccination campaign was initiated. After taking informed consent, all visitors were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) using hepatitis BsAg/eAg test (Binax Inc; Portland Maine). Sensitivity and specificity of this test for HBsAg was 99.75% and 99.32%, and for HBeAg 96.37% and 98.99% respectively.3 Total numbers of persons screened were 11372 (males 7575; 67%). Mean age 25.1±9.7 years; range 11-66 years. HBsAg was positive in 485 individuals (4.3%) and HBeAg in 97 (0.85% of total or 20% of HBsAg positive individuals). No difference could be found in the sex and mean age of HBeAg positive or negative subjects (p = 0.395 and 0.411). Limited studies are available to have a clear picture of prevalence of hepatitis B at the national level. In our study, the overall prevalence of hepatitis B in apparently healthy persons, visiting vaccination centres is 3-4% in most cities. However, prevalence is higher in some cities. Higher prevalence in Peshawar may be due to settled Afghan refugees and in Multan due to known higher endemicity in the "hepatitis belt" involving Southern Punjab and Upper Sindh provinces.

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