Hepatitis B and C: prevalence and risk factors associated with seropositivity among children in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

BackgroundInfections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to chronic liver disease and hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence and identified risk factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) sero-positivity among children 1 to 15 years of age.MethodsThe study targeted the low to middle socioeconomic population that comprises 80% to 85% of the population. Consent was obtained from parents of the eligible children before administering questionnaire and collected a blood sample for anti-HCV and HBsAg serology.Results3533 children were screened for HBsAg and anti-HCV. 1826 (52 %) were males. 65 (1.8 %) were positive for HBsAg, male to female ratio 38:27; mean age 10 ± 4 years. 55 (1.6 %) were positive for anti-HCV with a mean age 9 ± 4 years. 3 (0.11%) boys were positive for both HBsAg and anti-HCV. The overall infection rate was 3.3 % in the studied population. Hepatitis BsAg was more prevalent in subjects who received therapeutic injections 45 (69.2%) positive [Odd Ratio OR = 2.2; 95% Confidence interval CI: 1.3–3.6] inspite of using new needle and syringe 44 (67.7%) positive [OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3–3.7] and vaccination in the government healthcare facilities 46 (70.7 %) positive with [OR = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.4–6.4]. These factors were not significant in anti-HCV positive cases.ConclusionThere is a need to educate general population regarding HBV and HCV infection and risks associated with inappropriate therapeutic injections. Hepatitis B vaccine should be administered to all newborns regardless of maternal HBsAg status.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers in adolescents in Southern Brazil

“…It is also lower than that of 1% found in Pakistan 26 and of 4.3% in individuals from Thailand of a similar age range born before the implementation of the HBV vaccination, but similar to that of 0.7%, in those born afterwards 27 .…”

Hepatitis C virus in Pakistan: A systematic review ofprevalence, genotypes and risk factors

“…Agboatwalla et al [20] , 1994 Karachi ELISA 236 0.44 Khan et al [21] , 1996 Lahore EIA,RIBA 538 4.09 Parker et al [22] , 1999 Lahore ELISA 538 1.30 Hyder et al [23] , 2001 Lahore ELISA 171 0.58 Jafri et al [24] , [25] ,…”

“…Ten different studies showed that the percent prevalence of HCV in the general adult population was 4.95% ± 0.53% [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] , while six studies showed a percent prevalence of 1.72% ± 0.24% in the pediatric population [20][21][22][23][24][25] . In Pakistan, military recruits are screened for HCV before induction; six different studies showed a percent prevalence of 3.64% ± 0.31% in candidates for military recruitment [26][27][28][29][30][31] .…”

Hepatitis c virus antibodies in mother-infant blood pair in Zaria

“…A rate of 1.6% 17 was reported in Pakistani children aged between l-5years, and 0.4% 18 in American under 12s.The lower prevalence rates among the Pakistani and American children compared to findings in this study in newborns may be due to spontaneous resolution of some acute infections over time as documented in studies where children were followed up for long periods with resultant loss of HCV antibodies and negative viral antigen detection tests where earlier tests had been positive.…”