Abstract
Ghana is not an exception from developing countries suffering from hepatitis B infection. Research has shown that various communities have different prevalent rate as result of life style and socioeconomic levels. This study investigated the prevalence of the infection, possible risk factors, determined liver enzymes (AST and ALT) of infected respondents and serologically characterized the infected respondents in KNUST community. In a total of 85 respondents, 8 of them tested positive to the HBsAg indicating 9.41% prevalence. Males have higher prevalence (13.16%) than females (6.38%). Ages from 20-29 recorded the highest prevalence followed by 30-39 and 50-59. The mean values obtained for AST in U/l was (40.33±13.60) and ALT in U/l was (25.17±5.70). The mean values indicate normal health for liver cells. Three of the respondents reported of having a family history of HB virus, two claimed they had been blood-transfused and one was involved in sharing of devices. Therefore, age, sex, history of blood transfusion, use of shared items and blood contacts have much influence and could be major contributing factors to HBV infection. Serological evidence indicates that positive respondents to HBsAg fall within the inactive chronic hepatitis B carrier phase and so it can be concluded that the chronic hepatitis B-infected patients visiting the Clinical Analysis Laboratory are in the inactive phase.
Highlights
One of the commonest diseases that have attracted the attention of both scientists and the world is hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus is a common pathogenic infection, which causes acute and chronic hepatitis where disease last more than six months, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma
Out of the 85 subjects who were involved in the study, 77 of the subjects tested negative whilst 8 of the subjects tested positive to hepatitis B, which constitute 9.41% prevalence (Table 1)
Summary
One of the commonest diseases that have attracted the attention of both scientists and the world is hepatitis B. Only a few are of global significance, with hepatitis B being a serious infectious disease of the liver affecting millions of people throughout the world [2]. Hepatitis B virus is a common pathogenic infection, which causes acute (infection persist up to six months) and chronic hepatitis where disease last more than six months (the chronic hepatitis occur in phases which include; immune tolerance phase, positive HBeAg chronic hepatitis, inactive HBsAg carrier phase and HBeAg negative chronic phase), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver cirrhosis is an end stage chronic liver disease. Crawford [3] showed that 10% to 33% of those who develop persistent infection end up with chronic hepatitis of which 20% to 50% may develop liver cirrhosis
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