Abstract

Objective: To create awareness among the health care professional, specially doctors about diagnosis of acute hepatitis B.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Internal Medicine, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta from1st January2018 to 30th October 2020.

Methodology: A total number of1877 patients above the age 20 years recruited randomly after written consent in patients having positive HBsAg during routine screening of hepatitis B in indoor and outdoor patients.Thesepatients were further evaluated for Anti-HBc IgM. The history was taken and clinical examination was done according to Performa, specially made for this study. The Blood sample was collected from each patient to detect the Anti-HBc IgMtiter by radioimmunoassay kit.

Results: The mean age in anti-HBc IgM detected patients was 37.69±8.12 years. Mean duration of symptoms was 7.71±0.82 weeks, while certain patients were asymptomatic. Male to female ratio was found to be 3:2. The frequency of acute HBV infection was found to be 320(17.04%), while rest of the patients 1557 (82.95%) were suffering from chronic hepatitis B. Conclusion: The Anti-HBc IgM is very important serologic marker in patients suffering from acute hepatitis B infection. It is also present during window period of acute hepatitis B.

Keywords: Acute hepatitis B; Hepatitis Surface Antigen; IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen