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Learning Objectives for this Presentation:
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Background:
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Methods:
A review of literature on the prevalence of hepatitis infection in Pakistan is presented. A total of 220 abstracts available in Pakmedinet and Medline have been searched; relevant articles were reviewed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis infection. 98 relevant articles and 29 supporting references are included. Of the articles on prevalence of hepatitis infection, 14 were related to Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E; the remaining 84 articles were on prevalence of hepatitis B and C. This includes 6 studies on healthy children, 3 on vertical transmission, 8 on pregnant women, 5 on normal individuals, 2 on army recruits, 14 on blood donors, 5 on health care workers, 5 on unsafe injections, 10 on high risk groups, 4 on patients with provisional diagnosis of hepatitis and 22 on patients with chronic liver disease. This review highlights the lack of community-based epidemiological work as the number of subjects studied, other than patients and healthy blood donors appear very small.
The high prevalence of Hepatitis A was found in children which accounts for almost 60% of all cases of acute viral hepatitis in children in Pakistan. Hepatitis E is endemic in the country affecting mostly the adult population and epidemic situations have been reported from many parts of the country.
The mean results of HBs Ag and Anti-HCV prevalence on data aggregated from several studies was calculated which shows 2.3% and 2.5% prevalence of HBs Ag and Anti-HCV in children, 2.5% and 5.2% among pregnant women, 2.6% and 5.3% in general population, 3.5% and 3.1% in army recruits, 2.4% and 3.6% in blood donors, 6.0% and 5.4% in health care workers, 13.0% and 10.3% in high risk groups, 12.3% and 12.0% in patients with provisional diagnosis of hepatitis and 25.7% and 54% in patients with chronic liver disease.
Results:
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Conclusions:
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See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference