Frequency of hepatitis B and C in patients visiting outpatient department of District Head quarters Hospital Lakki

ABSTRACT

To find out the frequency of hepatitis B and C among the patients visiting out patient department. A total of 1443 subjects were screened for HBs Ag and anti-HCV in this descriptive study conducted from 1[st] January 2008 to 31 December 2008 in out patient department [OPD] District Headquarter Hospital Lakki. Patients of either sex and more that 15 years of age were screened for both hepatitis B and C. Patients with evidence of hepatitis B or C in the past were excluded. The HBs Ag and Anti-HCV screening was performed through Immunochromatographic [ICT] method. All sera showing reactivity were then confirmed with Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. The information of the patients was recorded on a proforma and analyzed. The frequency of hepatitis B was found to be 175 [12.12%] with a male predominance of 138 [14.97%]. Prevalence of hepatitis C was 58 [4.0%] with a male predominance 39 [4.22%], whereas in 5 [0.35%] cases both hepatitis B and c were present. Highest frequency of HBs Ag was detected in the settled area of the district while anti HCV was positive in high proportions in the frontier region [FR]. Overall prevalence of hepatitis was more common in rural population than the urban population. Hepatitis B is more common than hepatitis C in District Lakki. The high frequency of hepatitis needs to launch a major public awareness program and preventive measures to prevent its further spread