RESUMO
This study was designed to determine the various risk factors affecting the transmission of acute hepatitis B and to investigate whether the infection is essentially household or community acquired. The study showed that HbsAg-positive individuals were present more in households of HBV acutely infected patients than households of the controls. Also, anti- HBc IgG seropositivity was significantly higher in patients spouses and contacts than controls spouses and contacts. The various risk factors for transmission of HBV were the following in order of frequencies: Shared blades in barber shops, injections, sharing utensils with HbsAg-positive household member, shared machines in barber shops, shared combs or towels with HbsAg-positive household member, dental procedures, operation, sharing room with HbsAg-positive household member, vaccination, stitches, sharing bed, bedding, blades with or kissing of HbsAg-positive household member, neurological examination [pin pricking] and contact with jaundiced patient