The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among drug-dependent patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 1995

J Njoh
Al Amal Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HBsAg among drug-dependent patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Over a period of 10 months, 1498 patients admitted for drug dependence were tested for HBsAg. For each patient, the age and route of drug abuse were recorded. All the HBsAg positive patients were further tested for HBeAg and anti-Hbe. 244 patients were positive in HBsAg, giving a prevalence of 16.3%. Considered separately, the prevalence of HBsAg among drug users and non-intravenous drug users were 18.5% and 6.7% respectively. 225 (92.2%) of the 244 HBsAg positive patients were intravenous drug users. Of the 244 HBsAg positive patients, 35 (14.4%) were positive for HBeAg. The persistence for years of HBeAg in chronic HBsAg carriers may cause chronic liver disease and primary liver carcinoma. There is a need for more public education on this condition in order to control its spread and to prevent future complications.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002353 Carrier State The condition of harboring an infective organism without manifesting symptoms of infection. The organism must be readily transmissible to another susceptible host. Asymptomatic Carrier State,Asymptomatic Infection Carrier,Inapparent Infection Carrier,Presymptomatic Carrier State,Presymptomatic Infection Carrier,Super-spreader Carrier,Superspreader Carrier,Asymptomatic Carrier States,Asymptomatic Infection Carriers,Carrier State, Asymptomatic,Carrier State, Presymptomatic,Carrier States,Carrier, Super-spreader,Carrier, Superspreader,Carriers, Super-spreader,Carriers, Superspreader,Inapparent Infection Carriers,Infection Carrier, Asymptomatic,Infection Carrier, Inapparent,Infection Carrier, Presymptomatic,Presymptomatic Carrier States,Presymptomatic Infection Carriers,Super spreader Carrier,Super-spreader Carriers,Superspreader Carriers
D006509 Hepatitis B INFLAMMATION of the LIVER in humans caused by a member of the ORTHOHEPADNAVIRUS genus, HEPATITIS B VIRUS. It is primarily transmitted by parenteral exposure, such as transfusion of contaminated blood or blood products, but can also be transmitted via sexual or intimate personal contact. Hepatitis B Virus Infection
D006513 Hepatitis B e Antigens A closely related group of antigens found in the plasma only during the infective phase of hepatitis B or in virulent chronic hepatitis B, probably indicating active virus replication; there are three subtypes which may exist in a complex with immunoglobulins G. HBeAg,Hepatitis B e Antigen,Hepatitis Be Antigen,e Antigen,e Antigens,HBe Ag-1,HBe Ag-2,Hepatitis Be Antigens,Antigen, Hepatitis Be,Antigen, e,Antigens, Hepatitis Be,Antigens, e,Be Antigen, Hepatitis,Be Antigens, Hepatitis
D006514 Hepatitis B Surface Antigens Those hepatitis B antigens found on the surface of the Dane particle and on the 20 nm spherical and tubular particles. Several subspecificities of the surface antigen are known. These were formerly called the Australia antigen. Australia Antigen,HBsAg,Hepatitis B Surface Antigen,Antigen, Australia
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012529 Saudi Arabia A country located in the Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen. The capital is Riyadh. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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