Year: 2017, Issue: December
Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in patients - A laboratory based study in urban areas of
Andhra Pradesh.
Author:
C. Madhavi
Keyword:
HBV, HCV, Prevalence, HBs Ag, Anti-HCV.
Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections have remained recurring decimals in blood transfusion, vertical transmission, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) viral infections among clinically suspected and diagnosed chronic liver disease patients visited various private hospitals during July,2017-August,2017. Rapid diagnostic tests were used to screen for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies among patients. Data was collected by using the laboratory reports and diagnostic reports screened for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HCV by serological tests. Of the 953 patients screened, 28(3%) were positive for Hepatitis B virus and 8(0.8%) were positive for Hepatitis C virus. The gender related prevalence of HBsAg was 3(4.2%) in females and 25(2.8%) in males. Anti-HCV was reactive in 33.3% of the males and 50% of the females. This study revealed the low prevalence 3.7%of apparently healthy individuals harboring each of the viruses (HBV and HCV). This finding is a cause for alarm.