STUDY OF SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION.

Abstract

Introduction: HBV is a DNA virus belonging to family Hepadnaviridae. HBV infection leads to a wide spectrum
of liver diseases ranging from acute to chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis & hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV is known
to be the 10th leading cause of death. WHO estimates that worldwide more than 2 billion people have been
infected with HBV. India accounts for a very large proportion of the HBV burden.
Aim and objectives: To study the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among patients attending our
hospital, to know the prevalence among different age groups and among different genders
Material and Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study carried out at Dept. of Microbiology,
SHKM Govt. Medical College and hospital, Nalhar, Nuh, Haryana for the duration of 6 months (April 2019 to
September 2019). A total of 9000 serum samples collected from patients attending outpatient departments,
indoor patients and Intensive care unit of SHKM hospital.
Results: It was seen that out of 9000 patients, 432 patients were positive for HBsAg with the prevalence rate
4.8%. The prevalence was higher in females (5.58%) as compared to males (4.19%). The frequency of HBV
among age group 1-14, 15-40 and > 40 years was 8.4% (36), 48.3% (209) and 43.3% (187) respectively.
Conclusion: Our study highlights HBV infection rate in this part of Haryana and shall provide reference to
future studies on the epidemiology of HBV infection. It helps us to understand and assess the magnitude of
disease in the community.
Keywords: Seroprevalence, Hepatitis B, Haryana