Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among leprosy patients in a leprosy-endemic region of central Brazil
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
106(5): 632-634, Aug. 2011. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-597727
ABSTRACT
Leprosy and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly endemic in some regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in central Brazil. The association of leprosy with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed using a seroprevalence study and 191 leprosy outpatients were included. Demographic data and the clinical classification of leprosy were recorded. Evidence of previous HBV infection was present in 53 patients (27.7 percent, 95 percent confidence interval 21.9-34.5) and two (1 percent) were HBsAg positive. Five (2.6 percent) had antibodies to HCV. The prevalence of previous exposure to HBV was higher than expected for an adult population in central Brazil. In contrast, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was not much higher regarding the age range of participants. HBV markers were associated with a higher number of sex partners and the use of injections without proper sterilisation of the syringes. The number of HBV carriers was small, suggesting that there was no increased likelihood of chronification among these patients.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Hepatitis C
/
Coinfection
/
Hepatitis B
/
Leprosy
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Federal de Goiás/BR
/
Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso/BR
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