title: Prevalence of hepatitis B co-infection amongst HIV infected children attending a care and treatment centre in Owerri, South-eastern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B infection impacts negatively on disease progression in HIV infected children thereby increasing morbidity and mortality. In spite of the foregoing, there is paucity of data on Hepatitis B co-infection in children living with HIV in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria.This study set out to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B Co- infection in HIV infected children attending the Paediatric HIV Care and Treatment clinic of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study period was between February and July 2010. Testing for Hepatitis B infection was done using the ACON Hepatitis B surface antigen Rapid test strip. (Acon Laboratories Inc. San Diego.CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 139 HIV infected children were enrolled during the study period. The overall prevalence of Hepatitis B Co- infection was 5.8% (8/139). The prevalence in males was 8.2% (5/61) while in females it was 3.8% (3/78). The prevalence of Hepatitis B Co- infection amongst patients on antiretroviral therapy was 4.6%. They accounted for 62.5% of Hepatitis B Co- infection in our study. Previous blood transfusion, gender and age of patient did not show statistically significant relationship with Hepatitis B Co-infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though our study shows a low prevalence of Hepatitis B co infection in HIV infected children in our centre, reduction of the rate is still strongly desirable. Reduction can be achieved by strengthening the uptake of Hepatitis B vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunization programme.
authors: Paediatric Infectious diseases Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri Imo State, Nigeria.
authors: Emeka
authors: E
authors: Nwolisa
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Mbanefo
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Ezeogu
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Amadi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006268:Health Facilities; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Children; Disease progression; HIV Care and Treatment; HIV infection; Hepatitis B infection; Immunization; Prevalence
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