Hepatitis B infection in an orphanage
Sehgal, A.; Arankalle, V.; Gadkari, D.; Pavri, K.M.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 78: 607-610
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6671708 Document Number: 197807
A seroepidemiological study of hepatitis B was conducted in the Tayabia Muslim Orphanage in Pune. The overall exposure of hepatitis B virus infection was 71.8% (61/85), which was 8.9 times the exposure in the control population. The prevalence of this infection was significantly higher in the boys living in the orphanage for .gtoreq. 3 yr (84.3%) as against those with a shorter stay (52.9%). Twenty-four (28.2%) orphans were still susceptible at the time of the investigation. Eight orphans who were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen also had hepatitis B e antigen in their sera, providing a good reservoir of infection in the orphanage.