HBs antigen in children with suspicion of HIV infection.

In order to evaluate the prevalence rate of HBs antigen in children with a suspicion of HIV infection, 103 children were tested for HBs antigen and HIV. The mean age of the children was 2 years. The prevalence of HBs antigen was 39.8 per cent in children and the HIV ELISA test was positive in 57.7 per cent. A correlation was found between carrier of HBs antigen and HIV ELISA positivity (p = 0.04, RR = 1.46; 1.06 < RR < 2.02). There was a high prevalence of HBs antigen in children with a suspicion of HIV infection. This calls for the promotion of antenal screening for HIV and HBV along with immunization against hepatitis B in newborns in our setting.