Study of Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C  Viral Infection in Haemodialysis Patients  in Tirunelveli

Kanagapriya M; Palaniappan N; Sucilathangam G

Volume : II, Issue : XI, November - 2013

Study of Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Viral Infection in Haemodialysis Patients in Tirunelveli

Kanagapriya M, Palaniappan N, Sucilathangam G

Abstract :

Hepatitis C is an emerging infection in India. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of HCV infection among patients who were on haemodialysis for more than six months and to assess the risk factors associated with it and find means to reduce the transmission of HCV infection. This study was conducted at Tirunelveli medical college hospital from October 2010 to November 2011. A total of 121 patients were included in the study. The third generation commercial ELISA kit was used for detection of antibodies to Hepatitis C Virus in the patient�s serum. In the present study, Out of the 121 patients tested, 7 (5.8 %) patients were seropositive for HCV infection. The mean age of the positives was 36.9�12.9 years. All of them were male. The results revealed that there was a very strong association between the number of blood transfusions and HCV positivity (P