Suhail Ahmed Almani, Abdul Sattar Memon, Abdul Fatah Qureshi, Noor Mohammad Memon.
Hepatitis viral status in Sindh.
Professional Med J Jan ;9(1):36-43.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis viruses, presented with acute hepatitis (AH) at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad /Jamshoro. DESIGN: Hospital based descriptive of 100 individuals. PLACE & DURATION: This study was conducted in the medical wards of Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Hospital from January, 2000 to July, 2001. MATERIAL &METHODS: A total sera of 100 patients admitted with acute hepatitis were investigated to determine the cause. Serum samples were tested for antiHAV, HbsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc, anti-HCV, anti-HEV and HGV RNA. RESULTS: Results showed that eight (8%) individuals were screened as hepatitis A and four (4%) had HAV/HBV co-infection. Thirty-nine (39%) had hepatitis B and hepatitis D super infection amongst HbsAg positive was found in two (2/s) of individuals. Antibody to HCV was detected in nine (9%) individuals; three with HBV and two with HEV infection, while rest of the four were exclusively infected with HCV. Fourteen (14%) individuals probably with hepatitis E, five of who had evidence of antecedent HBV infection. Five (5%) individuals were screened as HGV, two of these were found to have co-infection with HCV and another two of them were found to have mixed infection with hepatitis B and C viruses. The viral hepatitis markers were all negative in nineteen (19%) of the total individuals. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate a strong background of HBV infections rising concern about its chronic sequlae in this part of country. Because HBV infection is highly endemic in Sindh, we propose that the community based mass immunization must be conducted as soon as possible particularly in this area of Sindh.

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