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age-specific prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in pediatric population of Aligarh, North India

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Abstract

Objective: To estimate the age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in children upto 14 years of age.Methods: Equal number (115 each) of apparently healthy children of both sexes of different age groups i.e. < 1, 1–4, 5–9 and 10–14 years, attending pediatric outpatient services and Well Baby Clinic of the hospital were tested for HBsAg using ELISA test. Positive results were confirmed by a second ELISA.Results: Overall 4.35% (95%CI, 2.44 –6.25) of the 460 children tested were HBsAg positive. The prevalence rate was the highest (6.09%) in the 1–4 year age category. In the < 1, 5–9 and 10–14 year age groups it was 4.35%, 4.35% and 2.61% respectively. The overall male to female ratio was 2.1:1, with no significant difference in seropositivity rates (P = 0.816).The difference in the prevalence rates between the rural (4.84%) and urban populations (3.77%) was also statistically insignificant (P = 0.577).Conclusion: Average HBsAg positivity in the pediatric population in this region is 4.35% (95%CI, 2.44 –6.25). The prevalence progressively increases and peaks in the 1–4 years age group. It is least in 10–14 years age group.

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Correspondence to Kamran Afzal.

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Qamer, S., Shahab, T., Alam, S. et al. age-specific prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in pediatric population of Aligarh, North India. Indian J Pediatr 71, 965–967 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02828107

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