title: Frequency of hepatitis B in asymptomatic patients of District Headquarter Hospital Kotli, Azad Kashmir.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B is prevalent throughout the world including Pakistan. A large proportion of patients suffering from Hepatitis B may be asymptomatic and can transmit the disease to healthy population. Objectives of this study were to estimate the frequency of Hepatitis B in asymptomatic adult population coming to District Headquarter Hospital Kotli, Azad Kashmir and to determine the risk factors associated with its transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study extending from January to December 2008. Subjects were randomly selected from those who attended the medial OPD of DHQ Hospital Kotli, Azad Kashmir for non-Hepatitis related problems. Both males and females between the ages of 15-80 years were included in the study. Blood samples taken from selected subjects were analysed for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by Immunochromatographic kit methods (ICT). Hepatitis B positive samples were further confirmed by third generation ELIZA. The patients thus confirmed were interrogated for different risk factors associated with transmission of Hepatitis B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 9,564 patients were analysed. Out of them 4230 (44.22%) were males and 5334 (55.77%) were females. Overall 141 (1.47%) patients were positive for HBSAg, 71 (1.68%) males and 70 (1.31%) females. Patients between 21-30 years of age were most commonly effected (35.46%, n = 50). Blood transfusion was the most common risk factor (24.82%, n = 35) associated with Hepatitis B transmission followed by dental procedures (14.18%, n = 20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequency of Hepatitis B in asymptomatic people in this study was quite high. Blood transfusions and dental procedures were the most common risk factors associated with the transmission of Hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Women Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan. drjaved_pk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sarwar
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Fareeda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jamshed
authors.forename: Nasreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gul
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idrees
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D055815:Young Adult