Author(s)

Khadidjatou Saké^1*, Cossi Angelo Attinsounon¹, Aboudou Raϊmi Kpossou², Morayo Omm Ani Salami¹, Astrid Alexandrine Hountondji¹, Kofi-Mensa Savi de Tovè¹, Rhonel Ahanhanzo-Glèlè³, Kpémahoun René Kèkè³, Sossa Edmond Gbédo⁴, Jean Sehonou², Nicolas Kodjoh²

¹Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
²Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
³Health Program to Fight AIDS, Cotonou, Benin.
⁴National Program for the Control of Hepatitis, Cotonou, Benin.

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B is a public health problem worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiological and diagnostic profile of chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus seen for gastroenterology consultations in Parakou, Republic of Benin. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study with retrospective data collection. Patients seen for gastroenterology consultations from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021 at the Regional Teaching Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUD-B/A) and having been diagnosed as chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus were included. A minimum initial assessment was required to be included. The minimum sample size was calculated with Schwartz formula. The variable of interest was the detection of HBsAg twice and at least 6 months apart. The other variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical data. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS 17 software. Results: A total of 2786 patients were seen for gastroenterology consultations, including 1126 (40.4%) HBsAg-positive patients. Among them, 417 patients met the inclusion criteria and were the subject of the present study. The average age of the patients was 34.8 ± 10.5 years. Two hundred and forty-seven patients (65.7%) were male, representing a sex ratio of 1.9. The discovery of positive HBsAg status was made during systematic screening in 231 patients (55.4%). Scarifications were noted in 373 patients (89.4%). Asthenia was reported in 184 patients (44.1%). Co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C and D viruses were 0% (0 in 92), 2.8% (4 in 146) and 14.3% (2 in 146), respectively. During the initial assessment, 274 patients (65.7%) were sero-negative for chronic HBeAg infection, 21 (5%) had clinically significant fibrosis including 16 (3.8%) at the stage of cirrhosis and 7 patients (5.4%) had hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: In Parakou, chronic hepatitis B virus infection is common and affects young people with a male predominance. Asthenia is a non-specific symptom and the most reported by the patients. Around 5 out of 100 patients are seen for consultations at the stage of complication. Emphasis must be placed on early detection and subsidy for pre-therapeutic assessment.

Chronic Infection, HBV, Epidemiology, Diagnosis, Parakou

Saké, K. , Attinsounon, C. , Kpossou, A. , Salami, M. , Hountondji, A. , Savi de Tovè, K. , Ahanhanzo-Glèlè, R. , Kèkè, K. , Gbédo, S. , Sehonou, J. and Kodjoh, N. (2024) Epidemiological and Diagnostic Profile of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus from 2017 to 2021 in Parakou, Republic of Benin. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 14, 147-161. doi: 10.4236/aid.2024.141011.