Co-infection by human immuno deficiency virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus in injecting drug users.

Injecting drug users (IDUs) are at risk of parenterally transmitted diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. The present study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of HIV infection, HBV infection and HCV infection among IDUs of a deaddiction centre. Serum samples from 250, injecting drug users (IDUs) from a de-addiction centre were screened for HBsAg using immunochromatography, anti HCV antibody by 3rd generation ELISA test and anti HIV antibody by ELISA test and immunochromatographic rapid test during the period August to October 2002. One hundred and forty-nine (59.6%) IDUs were positive for HIV antibody, 226 (90.4%) were positive for anti HCV antibody and 27 (10.8%) were positive for HBsAg. There was co-infection of HIV, HBV and HCV in 15 (6%) of the IDUs. The Co-infection of HBV and HCV were found in 12 cases (4.8%) and Co-infection of HIV and HCV was found in 131 cases (52.4%). The IDUs were in sexually active age group with a risk of infection to their sexual partner. There is high prevalence of HCV and HIV infection and co-infection of both viruses among IDUs. Comprehensive public health interventions targeting this population and their sexual partners must be encouraged. Increase coverage of needle, syringe exchange programme (NSEP) to young and new IDUs is required before they are exposed to blood borne viruses.

Helminthic infestation of the primary school-going children in Manipur.

A total of 1010 stool samples collected from the primary school-going children between the age group of 5 to 10 years from September 1998 to October 2000, were studied to find out the prevalence of intestinal helminths in this paediatric age group and in the urban and rural areas of Manipur. The samples were processed in the Microbiology Department, RIMS, Imphal by wet film, iodine preparation and concentration techniques (formol-ether concentration) to find out the presence of eggs, larvae of the intestinal parasites (helminths). A total of 248 (24.5%) were positive for various helminths. Among the positive cases, 110 (26.3%) were from the urban area (city) and 138 (23.4%) from the rural areas of Manipur. Of the 552 males and 458 females tested, 136 (24.6%) males and 112 (24.5%) females respectively were positive for various helminths. Maximum number of parasitic infection occurred in the age group of 5 to 6 years (27.0%) in both sexes. Among the parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides was the commonest (19.6%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (2.18%), Hymenolepis nana (0.99%), Tapeworm (0.19%), Hookworm (0.09%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.09%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.09%). Mixed infection of Ascaris lumbricoides with T. trichiura (1.08), T. trichiura with E. vermicularis (0.09%) and T. trichiura with S. stercoralis (0.09) were also encountered. Antihelminthic drugs were prescribed to those who were found positive for the helminths.