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Title: | Hepatitis B and C virus markers among new entrant medical students |
Authors: | Premawardhena, A.P. Premaratna, R. Jayaweera, G. Costa, S. Chandrasena, L.G. de Silva, H.J. |
Keywords: | Hepatitis Hepatitis, Viral, Human Hepatitis B Antigens-blood Hepatitis B Surface Antigens-blood Hepatitis C Antigens-blood Students, Medical Cross-Sectional Studies |
Issue Date: | 1999 |
Publisher: | Sri Lanka Medical Association |
Citation: | The Ceylon Medical Journal. 1999; 44(3): 120-122 |
Abstract: | AIM: To investigate the presence of hepatitis B and C virus markers in new entrant medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. METHOD: 456 students (mean age 24 years, SD 3.5, 257 men) were investigated before they were exposed to clinical work, using a questionnaire to assess sociodemographic factors and possible risk factors for contracting hepatitis B or C. Blood samples were tested for HBs Ag and anti HBs (n = 456), and anti-HCV (n = 162 randomly selected samples) with a third generation sandwich radioimmunoassay technique. RESULTS: The students were from 20 of the 25 districts in the country, although their distribution was not inform. A past history of hepatitis or jaundice was obtained from 24 (5.3 percent ) and 6 (1.3 percent ) students respectively. None of them had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. At least one risk factor for hepatitis B or C was present in 32 (7 percent ) of them. None of the samples were positive for HBsAg or anti-HCV, and only two (0.44 percent ) were positive for anti-HBs. CONCLUSION: Our results support the view that exposure to hepatitis B and C seems to be uncommon in this country, at least up to young adulthood. As most new entrant medical students are not immune to these infections there is a strong case to vaccinate them against hepatitis B before they are exposed to clinical work. |
Description: | Indexed in MEDLINE |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/1397 |
ISSN: | 0009-0875 (Print) |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
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