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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2009  |  Volume : 50  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 18-22

Hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria - A review


1 Department of Paediatrics, Imo state University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Nigeria
2 Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
3 Department of Paediatrics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria
4 Department of Paediatrics, Amaku General Hospital, Avka, Nigeria
5 Institute of Child Health, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
G O Emechebe
Department of Paediatrics, Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu
Nigeria
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


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Background:Hepatitis B virus infection is a pandemic and chronic infection may lead to chronic liver diseases which are often lethal. This review was done to assess the status of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria. Materials and Method:Source of information was mainly from published works in Nigeria and elsewhere. The information was extracted over period of 5 months from May to December 2007. Result: Since over 30years when pioneer works were done in Nigeria to the recent tunes the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection has remained very high. In Nigeria, the transmission of hepatitis B virus occurs mainly during childhood and all the risk factors (like blood transfusion, sexual promiscuity, lower socioecomic status etc) implicated elsewhere in the spread of the virus in the general population also play role in Nigeria. Conclusion: Reduction in the of hepatitis B virus infection could be achieved by public enlightenment campaign, mass immunization of the children and adults at risk while antiviral drugs and immunostimulatory therapy should be provided for those already infected.


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