HEPATITIS B AND C : SEROPREVALENCE, COINFECTION, RISK FACTORS AND PREVENTION : A GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERN

Arjun Singh Bisht; Kalpana Chauhan; Ravi Pratap Singh; Anita Pandey

Volume : IX, Issue : III, March - 2020

HEPATITIS B AND C : SEROPREVALENCE, COINFECTION, RISK FACTORS AND PREVENTION : A GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERN

Arjun Singh Bisht, Kalpana Chauhan, Ravi Pratap Singh, Anita Pandey

Abstract :

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections represent serious global and public health problem. An estimate of 400 million persons are carriers of HBV worldwide, 75% of whom reside in Asia and the western pacific. Likewise, HCV infection is estimated at approximately 170 million people globally.Hepatitis B virus was first isolated in 1963and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was identified in 1989. The present study was carried out to estimate the seroprevalence, co–infection,analysis of associated risk factors and prevention of Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C virus infection in ChattrapatiShivajiSubharti Hospital, Meerut. METHODS:This was a prospective study which includedserum samples collected over a period of 1 year from patients attending OPDs and admitted in various in–patient units (wards and ICUs) whichwere subjected to detection of HBsAg and Anti–HCV Ab using rapidimmunochromatographic tests and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Out of total 11,311 samples,367 (3.24%) were positive for HBsAg and 612 (5.14%) were positive for Anti HCV Ab. Maximum cases of hepatitis B (85.02%) and Hepatitis C(87.91%) virus infection were diagnosed among IPD patients.Co–infection was seen in 25 (2.55%)cases.In maximum cases of Co–infection the risk factor associated was Blood or blood product transfusion(32%). CONCLUSION:Since HBV and HCV infections have high mortality, population at risk should be screened to know the burden of hepatitis virus infections nationwide to make the plans and policies for disease prevention. The prevention of HCV and HBV infection can be achieved by screening of blood and blood products, vaccinaton against Hepatitis B and creating awareness about risk factors.