Hepatitis B infection in Malta

Abstract

This study concerns hepatitis B infection or long incubation hepatitis, previously known as serum hepatitis. This viral infection affects the liver. The viral agent is a medium sized particle with an outer shell and inner core. The core harbours the double stranded DNA together with HBc and HBe antigens. HBsAg is concentrated within the outer shell. This antigen is found in excess in both acute and chronic infections. For this reason serological tests for the presence of HBsAg were carried out. The acute phase may take one of three courses; the infection may resolve, cause death or lead to chronic infection. In the latter the host is unable to clear the virus and thus acts as a carrier of the infection. Such patients are predisposed to a greater risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma. There are an estimated 300 million carriers world wide. Prevalence in Malta has often been regarded as intermediate, but this assumption was not based on any serological studies. This theoretical prevalence (which is taken to lie between the 2 and 7%), was probably brought about due to the fact that Malta is geographically surrounded by areas of intermediate prevalence.