title: Hepatitis B surface antigen carrier rate in unvaccinated and vaccinated children with thalassaemia major at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
abstract: Screening of blood reduces but does not eliminate the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in multi-transfused thalassaemia patients. This study was done to evaluate efficacy of HBV vaccination on hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier rate in children with thalassaemia major receiving multiple blood transfusions. In a cohort study conducted at a hospital in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during 2009-10, children with thalassaemia major aged < 60 months who received more than 24 blood transfusions and were HBsAg negative at the time of first blood transfusion were included. Of 196 unvaccinated children, the seropositive rate was 12.2%; while among 218 children vaccinated during the first year of life via the Pakistan Expanded Programme on Immunization, the seropositive rate was only 0.9%. The HBV vaccine was highly effective in reducing the HBsAg carrier rate in hildren with thalassaemia aged < 5 years.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Quaid-e-Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan. drarehman100@gmail.com
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rehman
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mazhar
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Sheikh
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Naeem
authors: I A
authors: IA
authors: Bhatti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines