FREQUENCY OF HBeAg POSITIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS B INFECTION IN TEACHING HOSPITALS OF PESHAWAR

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of acute and chronic hepatitis HBeAg positivity in patients ofdifferent ages and gender suffering from Hepatitis B Virus infection, and to rectify the key factorsresponsible for its transmission.METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional study conducted for duration of 3 months at tertiary care hospitals ofPeshawar on 220 patients suffering from hepatitis B infection that are screened for serum markers.nonprobability convenient sampling technique was used and structured questionnaire was used as datacollection tool. Patient’s record was checked for serum markers. Data collected was analyzed by SPSSversion 16.RESULTS: Out of total 220 cases with hepatitis B infection 145 were male while 75 were females.103(46.8%) were found to be positive with raised level of serum marker HBeAg, predominantly more inmale gender and young age patients with mean age of 22 years. The serum level of (HBeAg) was high inpatients having chronic hepatitis as compare to acute hepatitis. Patients with positive HBeAg weresignificantly associated with raised level ofALT.CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of HBe Ag+ve in patients suffering from hepatitis B infection is 46.8%with more predominant in young age patients associated with raised level ofALT.RECOMMENDATIONS: Health education of the community regarding preventive measures fromhepatitis B infection and early diagnosis through mass screening program is recommended.KEYWORDS: Serum marker HBeAg, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, incubation period, ALT.