Frequency of hepatitis-C virus in the spouses of HCV positive patients and risk factors of the two groups

ABSTRACT

To find out frequency of HCV in the spouses of HCV positive cases and risk factors of the two groups. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration Ward 5 JPMC Karachi from August 2003 to January 2004. Patients And Fifty patients infected with HCV, aged 18 year and above of both sexes and their spouses were included through structured questionnaire while others suffering from HBV, HIV and other etiologies were excluded. Samples were collected from the spouses for anti-HCV using micro particle enzyme immunoassay [MEIR] method. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Anti-HCV detected in 9 [18%] spouses of positive cases. The risk factors were unsterlized injections by GPs [58%], previous surgery and dental procedure in 48% patients, blood transfusion and sharing of shaving razors equally figured in 19 [38%] patients, sharing of towels 40% and toothbrush was 28%. Duration of marriage contributed a major role; average duration was 17.86 ' 8.91 years. There was high frequency of HCV in the spouses of positive cases and major risk factors were blood transfusion, I/V drug abuse, unsterlized injections, previous surgery, dental procedures and longer duration of marriages