The threat of hepatitis B from dental school patients. A one-year study.
A study was conducted at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry using the radioimmunoassay technique of serum analysis for presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in all new patients accepted for treatment over a period of one year. The prevalence was 0.61 percent (22 seropositive patients from a total of 3,626 patients screened). Chronic HBsAg carriers, presence of e antigen, and high titers of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were documented. Eighteen of the 22 seropositive patients had no past history of hepatitis, indicating the inadequacy of a history for revealing carriers of HBsAg.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003815:Dentists; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000635:transmission*
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases