Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in HBsAg positive patients at KLE’S Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital and Medical Research Center, Belagavi”-A One Year Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide,An estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B virus infection (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen positive). In 2015 hepatitis B resulted in 8,87,000 deathsmostly from complications due such as cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection has emerged as a leading cause of morbidity due to liver disease throughout the world in the last two decades. Approximately, 10 % of all HIV infected patients worldwide are estimated to have chronic HBV co-infection. In general, approximately 2–10% of anti-HCV-positive patients are found to be HBsAg positive. Co-infections are more prevalent due to overlapping transmission routes. In co-infection the presence of one virus impacts the natural history of the other virus OBJECTIVES: 1. To Study The Prevalance of Co-infection of HCV and HIV among HBsAg positive patients MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out from January 2017 to December 2017. All the sera which arer ecieved for HBsAg Screening to central lab of KLES DR Prabhakar Kore charitable Hospital & MRC, Belagavi were taken. Total 75 HBsAg positive serums were taken which were tested by using immunochromatography test and further confirmed by ELISA. These HBsAg positive serum samples were further tested for HIV and HCV by ELISA method. RESULTS: Out of 75 HBsAg positive patients maximum patients were between age group of 41 to 60 yrs (40%), followed by 21 to 40 yrs ( 34.46%), Out of 75 HBsAg positive patients male were more predominant 56 (75%)Most common occupation among HBsAg Positive patients was Farmer 33 (44%) followed by Driver 10 (13.33%), maximum patients were illiterate 42(56%) ,Most common symptoms were Fever 40 (53.33 %) followed by Loss of appetite18 (24 %),46 (61.33%) showed increase in Liver enzymes, coinfection with HIV was seen in 4(5%) patients and 7 1 (95%) were negative.,out of HIV Postive patients 4 (7%) male and females were zero (0%),HBsAg and HCV coinfection was zero (0%) as well as HBsAg and HCV and HIV triple infection was zero (0%). CONCLUSION: In current study 3278 patients screened for HBsAg out of which 75 were positive and prevalence was 2%.There was high prevalence of HIV and HBsAg coinfection among patients attending hospital which was 5%. There is no coinfection of HBsAg and HCV seen. The routine screening of HIV and HCV should be mandatory for HBsAg positive patients, as there is more chance of co infection with these viruses due to similar routes of transmission. Clear national policies should be established which should include clear economic and health care strategies test for HBsAg and HIV and HCV to improve quality of living conditions, and easy access to health care facilities.People should be educated about taking preventive measures, prophylaxis for Hepatitis B virus and avoid high risk activities to prevent for transmission of these viruses.