Clinical, biochemical and virological profile of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in children.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus infection is prevalent worldwide. Overall prevalence is about 3 percent in Bangladesh. This prospective study aimed to find out the clinical, biochemical & virological profile of chronic HBV infection in children. It was conducted on patient attending the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. A total of 90 cases were studied from October 2007 to October 2009. Univariate analysis was done. The study showed that most of the patients of chronic HBV are clinically asymptomatic, biochemically normal or near normal. Most of the chronic HBV infected patients are virologically HBeAg positive (77.8%). Therefore screening for asymptomatic HBV infection is essential for early diagnosis and treatment.