1. Hepatitis B surface antigen carrier rate in unvaccinated and vaccinated children with thalassaemia major at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Author
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Rehman A, Naeem Mm, Mazhar A, Sheikh Ma, and Bhatti Ia
- Subjects
Male ,HBsAg ,Pediatrics ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Blood transfusion ,Adolescent ,National Health Programs ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Comorbidity ,medicine.disease_cause ,Hepatitis b surface antigen ,Cohort Studies ,Risk Factors ,medicine ,Humans ,Blood Transfusion ,Hepatitis B Vaccines ,Pakistan ,Child ,Hepatitis B virus ,Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ,Thalassaemia major ,business.industry ,beta-Thalassemia ,General Medicine ,Hepatitis B ,digestive system diseases ,Carrier rate ,Immunization ,Immunology ,Carrier State ,Female ,business ,Cohort study - Abstract
Screening of blood reduces but does not eliminate the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in multi- transfused thalassaemia patients. This study was done to evaluate efficacy of HBV vaccination on hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier rate in children with thalassaemia major receiving multiple blood transfusions. In a cohort study conducted at a hospital in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during 2009-10, children with thalassaemia major aged < 60 months who received more than 24 blood transfusions and were HBsAg negative at the time of first blood transfusion were included. Of 196 unvaccinated children, the seropositive rate was 12.2%; while among 218 children vaccinated during the first year of life via the Pakistan Expanded Programme on Immunization, the seropositive rate was only 0.9%. The HBV vaccine was highly effective in reducing the HBsAg carrier rate in children with thalassaemia aged < 5 years.
- Published
- 2012