Prevalence of Hepatitis D virus infection among Hepatitis B virus surface antigen positive children attending two selected Hospitals in Jos, Nigeria
1 Department of Basic Sciences, Federal Collage of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) Jos, Nigeria.
2 Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria.
3 Department of Medical Microbiology, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
4 Department of Pediatric, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria.
5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Jos, Nigeria.
6 Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Research Article
Magna Scientia Advanced Biology and Pharmacy, 2024, 11(01), 058–065
Article DOI: 10.30574/msabp.2024.11.1.0016
Publication history:
Received on 05 January 2024; revised on 15 February 2024; accepted on 18 February 2024
Abstract:
Hepatitis B virus is a member of Hepadnaviridae family that cause liver infections in humans. These viral infections are characteristically linked with cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma that are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the population of developing countries including Nigeria. Young children and newborns are more likely to have liver damage early in life and become chronic HBV carriers. This study identified the frequency of hepatitis B and D co-infection in children visiting the emergency pediatric units of Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The virus was screened using immunochromatographic Skytec® HBsAg test strips and Alere chase buffer for the qualitative detection of HBsAg in serum. HBsAg positive samples were confirmed using HBsAg Monolisa ELISA kit. Using an Italian HDV ELISA kit, samples that tested positive for HBsAg were further examined to evaluate the presence of HDV co-infection. The finding of this study revealed that 4.4% of children had HBsAg markers on their bodies. None of the children with HBV infection were co-infected with HDV. The HBV prevalence was found to be highest in children aged 6 to 10 years. Females had higher levels of HBV seropositivity (5.5%). Risk factors in children included birthplace (native households), failure to check children's HBV status after immunization, and history of jaundice. To properly manage and prevent this infection, it is advised that children should be promptly immunized at birth, their HBV status should be confirmed following immunization and they should be revaccinated if necessary.
Keywords:
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV); Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV); Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Chronic hepatitis B (CHB); Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0