FREQUENCY OF HEP FREQUENCY OF HEP FREQUENCY OF HEP FREQUENCY OF HEP FREQUENCY OF HEPA A A A ATITIS ‘B’ SURF TITIS ‘B’ SURF TITIS ‘B’ SURF TITIS ‘B’ SURF TITIS ‘B’ SURFACE ANTIGEN ACE ANTIGEN ACE ANTIGEN ACE ANTIGEN ACE ANTIGEN AND AND AND AND AND HEP

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of HBsAg and HCV-antibodies in thalassemic children in tertiary care
hospital of Peshawar.
METHODOLOGY: A descriptive study of 100 thalassemic children diagnosed clinically, was done at Department of
Pediatrics, PGMI/LRH, Peshawar from 22/03/2007 to 21/12/2007 (completed in 9 months). All the subjects included
in the study were investigated for HBsAg and HCV-antibodies using 3rd generation ELISA technique.
RESULTS: Out of 100 thalassemic children, HBsAg(Hepatitis B surface antigen) was positive in 04% cases,
HCV(Hepatitis C virus)-antibodies was positive in 13% cases, and 02% cases were positive for both HBsAg and
HCV-antibodies. There were 55% male and 45% were female. Majority (69%) cases were in the age group of 1-5
years. Hepatitis B vaccination was done in 17% cases, consanguinity was positive in 56% cases, and thalassemia in
family was positive in 42% cases on past history. In 67% cases, blood was transfused from 1-25 times, in 15% cases
from 26-50 times, in 13% from 51-100 times, in 03% from 101-150 times, and in 02% from 450-500 times.
CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B and C are common in thalassemic children.Hepatitis C is the leading hepatotrophic
virus in thalassemic children followed by Hepatitis B.
KEY WORDS: Thalassemia; HBsAg, HCV-antibodies; diagnosis; frequency.