HBS-Antigenaemia in in- and outpatient children at University of Benin Teaching Hospital

ABSTRACT

Using the Elisa method; 437 children of both sexes and aged 2 months to 15 years; who had no signs suggestive of hepatitis B virus infection were screened for the presence of HBsAg in their remaining 170; were admitted into the ward on account of illness that were not suggestive of hepatitis. (10.88of all the children screened were positive for HBsAg. 13.5of those who were admitted into the ward were HBsAg positive. Nine percent of the outpatients study group who were generally less ill than the admitted patients; were HBsAg positive. There were no statistically significant difference in HBs-Antigenaemia in both groups of children