Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus in surgical patients

ABSTRACT

To assess the current prevalence of Hepatitis B and C virus in our set up. Prospective descriptive study from June 2005 to December 2006. Department of Surgery, Baqai Medical University, Karacho. All patients who were operated during the study period. The detailed information about each patient was entered on a pre-designed questionnaire, including age, sex, type of operation, HBV and HCV screening test results, and presence of risk factors like history of drug addiction, blood transfusion, family history of hepatitis, tattooing, viral vaccination, hospitalization, previous surgery, haemodialysis, etc. Amongst the total 275 patients, 27 [9.8%] had the Hepatitis virus HBV-10, HCV-14 and HBV and HCV-3. Infection was more common among male patients and those between the ages of 4150 years. Knowledge about Hepatitis risk factors is deficient; hence there should be more emphasis on public mass education programmes. Besides HBV vaccination should be carried out to reduce Hepatitis transmission