ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine frequency of hepatitis B and C virus infection in surgical patients and its relation to already reported risk factors
Study design: Case series
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery Civil Hospital Karachi, from May 2012 to September 2012
Methodology: All patients who were scheduled for surgical procedures were screened for HBsAg and anti-HCV using immunochromatography [ICT]. The variables already known for the possible transmission were also inquired. The data was entered into a Performa and entered into SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics were used for computation of the results
Results: Out of the total 662 patients, 325 [49.1%] were males and 337 [50.9%] females. Mean age of patients was 37.52 year. Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] was positive in 19 [2.9%] patients of whom 12 [63.15%] were males. Hepatitis C [anti-HCV] was found in 45 [6.8%] patients of whom 24 [53.33%] were females. Among HBsAg positive patients, 17 [89.47%] had history of intravenous injections; similar history was found in 44 [97.77%] anti-HCV positive patients
Conclusions: Frequency of hepatitis B was slightly more than hepatitis C in surgical patients. Routine serological screening prior to surgery should be made mandatory so that health care workers especially surgeons can take precautions before surgery
ABSTRACT
Dengue is among the most common mosquito-borne viral diseases that affect humans. It has now become a major public health dilemma, annually affecting approximately 50-100 million people worldwide. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and perception of dengue fever among university students of interior Sindh. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the period of April-June 2012. Four hundred and fifty students were surveyed. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Overall, 94.6% of participants [43.3% male and 56.7% female, p-value 0.03] reported that they had heard about dengue, and 58.6% of participants reported "Aedes mosquito" as a vector of dengue virus, with gender difference [37.5% male vs 62.5% females with p-value <0.001]. The Aedes mosquito is "A small dark mosquito having white stripes on its leg" was reported by 54.8% students. The Aedes mosquito breeds in "Stagnant clean water" was reported by 47.6% [male 40.2% vs female 59.8%, p-value 0.003] and usually bites at "Dusk" by 44.7% and at "Dawn" by 51%. Regarding symptoms of dengue fever, "Prolonged high fever" was reported by 52.6%, "Muscular pain" by 39.6% [p-value 0.009], "Bleeding" by 41.3% [p-value 0.001] and "Headache, nausea and vomiting" by 44.7% [p-value 0.001]. Approximately half of the participants in our study were unable to correctly identify the Aedes mosquito as a transmission source [41.4%], its appearance [45.2%], its breeding place [52.4%] and its bite time [52.2%]. The enhancement of knowledge through different educational programs is needed to increase awareness of dengue fever