Hepatitis B and C virus markers among new entrant medical students.
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Date
1999-09-17
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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%) and 6 (1.3%) 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%) of them. None of the samples were positive for HBsAg or anti-HCV, and only two (0.44%) 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.
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The Ceylon Medical Journal.
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Premawardhena AP, Premaratne R, Jayaweera G, Costa S, Chandrasena LG, de Silva HJ. Hepatitis B and C virus markers among new entrant medical students. The Ceylon Medical Journal. 1999 Sep; 44(3): 120-2