ABSTRACT
Thalassemia is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. Children suffering from beta thalassemia major, due to various genetic defects, have deficient synthesis of beta globin chain of Hemoglobin. They need frequent blood transfusions, so they are at increased risk of transfusion transmitted infections especially HCV. To evaluate frequency of hepatitis C in thalassemia major patients. Prospective descriptive study. This study was conducted at the Thalassemia care Center Nawabshah, Sindh from 1[st] January 2011 to 31[st] December 2011. Children ages from 3 months to 14 years with Beta thalassemia major were included. Patients were scrutinized for anti HCV antibodies by third generation ELISA technique. Total of 126 patients of thalassemia major studied in this series, 59 [46.82%] were males and 67 [53.17%] females. Out of these 18 [14.26%] were hepatitis C positive. HCV infection is an important cause of viral infection among thalassemic children with a prevalence of 14.26% in our study population