Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem in the developing countries including Pakistan. Various risk factors are responsible for the spread of this infectious disease. Prevalence of HBV infection in apparently s...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Khan Hayat, Israr Muhmmad, Qureshi Ihteshamud, Shams Sulaiman, Khan Fawad, Sarwar Muhammad, Ilyas Muhammad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-05-01
Series:Virology Journal
Online Access:http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/225
_version_ 1811313852479963136
author Khan Hayat
Israr Muhmmad
Qureshi Ihteshamud
Shams Sulaiman
Khan Fawad
Sarwar Muhammad
Ilyas Muhammad
author_facet Khan Hayat
Israr Muhmmad
Qureshi Ihteshamud
Shams Sulaiman
Khan Fawad
Sarwar Muhammad
Ilyas Muhammad
author_sort Khan Hayat
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem in the developing countries including Pakistan. Various risk factors are responsible for the spread of this infectious disease. Prevalence of HBV infection in apparently suspected individual of Punjab province of Pakistan was analyzed during January 2008 to December 2010. Current study was aimed to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of HBV infection.</p> <p>Methodology</p> <p>Four thousand eight hundred and ninety patients suffering from chronic liver disease were screened for the presence of HBV DNA using qualitative Real Time PCR methodology to confirm their status of infection. A predesigned standard questionnaire was filled for all the patients that included information about the possible risk factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 4890 ELISA positive patients were screened for Hepatitis B virus infection. Of these 3143 were positive for HBV, includes 68.15% males and 31.85% females. Male were observed to be more frequently infected as compared to the female with a positivity ratio of 2.14: 1. The rate of infection increases with the passage of time in the course of three years. Highest frequency of infection was found in the age of 21-30 was 34.93% followed by 23.83% in 31-40. Only (13.39%) were belonging to the age group 11-20 year. The rate of infection declines with increasing age as shown by age groups 41-50 (16.13%) and 51-60 (7.09%). While children aged 0-10 and very old >60 age groups were very less frequently 1.49% and 1.65% infected respectively. Important risk factors contributing to HBV spread include barber risk (23.60%), blood transfusion (4.04%), History of injection 26.19%, Reuse of syringes 26.60%, dental risk (11.20%) and surgical procedure (4.26%). Among the entire respondents trend sharing personal items was very common. History of injection, barber risk, surgery and dental procedure and reuse of syringes appear as major risk factors for the transmission.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Male were more frequently exposed to the risk factors as compared to female. Similarly the younger age group had high rate of infection as compared to the children's and the older age groups. Reuse of syringes', barber risk and History of injection were main risk identified during the present study. To lower HBV transmission rate Government should take aggressive steps towards massive awareness and vaccination programs to decrease the burden of HBV from the Punjab province of Pakistan.</p>
first_indexed 2024-04-13T11:01:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4b2f93d6b2de478da6c5ee7d7560f279
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1743-422X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T11:01:57Z
publishDate 2011-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Virology Journal
spelling doaj.art-4b2f93d6b2de478da6c5ee7d7560f2792022-12-22T02:49:23ZengBMCVirology Journal1743-422X2011-05-018122510.1186/1743-422X-8-225Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani PunjabKhan HayatIsrar MuhmmadQureshi IhteshamudShams SulaimanKhan FawadSarwar MuhammadIlyas Muhammad<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem in the developing countries including Pakistan. Various risk factors are responsible for the spread of this infectious disease. Prevalence of HBV infection in apparently suspected individual of Punjab province of Pakistan was analyzed during January 2008 to December 2010. Current study was aimed to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of HBV infection.</p> <p>Methodology</p> <p>Four thousand eight hundred and ninety patients suffering from chronic liver disease were screened for the presence of HBV DNA using qualitative Real Time PCR methodology to confirm their status of infection. A predesigned standard questionnaire was filled for all the patients that included information about the possible risk factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 4890 ELISA positive patients were screened for Hepatitis B virus infection. Of these 3143 were positive for HBV, includes 68.15% males and 31.85% females. Male were observed to be more frequently infected as compared to the female with a positivity ratio of 2.14: 1. The rate of infection increases with the passage of time in the course of three years. Highest frequency of infection was found in the age of 21-30 was 34.93% followed by 23.83% in 31-40. Only (13.39%) were belonging to the age group 11-20 year. The rate of infection declines with increasing age as shown by age groups 41-50 (16.13%) and 51-60 (7.09%). While children aged 0-10 and very old >60 age groups were very less frequently 1.49% and 1.65% infected respectively. Important risk factors contributing to HBV spread include barber risk (23.60%), blood transfusion (4.04%), History of injection 26.19%, Reuse of syringes 26.60%, dental risk (11.20%) and surgical procedure (4.26%). Among the entire respondents trend sharing personal items was very common. History of injection, barber risk, surgery and dental procedure and reuse of syringes appear as major risk factors for the transmission.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Male were more frequently exposed to the risk factors as compared to female. Similarly the younger age group had high rate of infection as compared to the children's and the older age groups. Reuse of syringes', barber risk and History of injection were main risk identified during the present study. To lower HBV transmission rate Government should take aggressive steps towards massive awareness and vaccination programs to decrease the burden of HBV from the Punjab province of Pakistan.</p>http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/225
spellingShingle Khan Hayat
Israr Muhmmad
Qureshi Ihteshamud
Shams Sulaiman
Khan Fawad
Sarwar Muhammad
Ilyas Muhammad
Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab
Virology Journal
title Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab
title_full Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab
title_fullStr Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab
title_full_unstemmed Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab
title_short Hepatitis B virus infection among different sex and age groups in Pakistani Punjab
title_sort hepatitis b virus infection among different sex and age groups in pakistani punjab
url http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/225
work_keys_str_mv AT khanhayat hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab
AT israrmuhmmad hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab
AT qureshiihteshamud hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab
AT shamssulaiman hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab
AT khanfawad hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab
AT sarwarmuhammad hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab
AT ilyasmuhammad hepatitisbvirusinfectionamongdifferentsexandagegroupsinpakistanipunjab