Status of Hepatitis B, C, E and A in Healthy Asymptomatic Persons and Child Bearing Age Groups Females in Varanasi, U.P., India

Abstract

Hepatitis B and C are common viral hepatitis, which can lead to cirrhosis or carcinoma of liver. These types of hepatitis are many times asymptomatic but can transmit the disease after blood   transfusion and body fluid contact.  Aim of present study was to see asymptomatic carrier of hepatitis B, C, E and A in our area (Varanasi, Uttar-Pradesh, India).

Our study referred asymptomatic patients from different surgical wards, comprising of pregnant females, blood donors and elderly persons. In 19 HBsAg positive cases liver function test (LFT) was also done. HBsAg, Anti HCV IgG, Anti HAV IgM and Anti HEV IgM were done by card test.

We  were  screened  2343  non-jaundice  persons  which  were  included  47%  females (childbearing age group females were 50%, out of which 19% were pregnant and 81% were non pregnant ) over all HBsAg positivity among non-jaundice persons were 2.94%, in which 3.15% males and 2.71% females. The HBsAg positivity was high (8.4%) in pregnant females as compare to non-pregnant females (2.7%).

Total 552 healthy blood donor including 526 males and 26 females were tested for HBsAg.  Female donors had high HBsAg positivity (7.70%) as compared to male blood donors (3.23%).

81 patients were screened for Anti HAV IgM and Anti HEV IgM. Only one female (2.71%) and one male (2.28%) were positive for Anti HAV IgM and Anti HEV IgM.

Out of total 533 patients, only one male (0.3%) and one female (0.49%) was positive for Anti HCV IgG, Total 125 healthy elderly persons (40 males and 85 females) were tested for HBsAg, these elderly persons were residing in Kumbh Mela at Allahabad for religious purification of body. None of the male, but one female (1.18%) was positive for HBsAg. These elderly persons also were screened for Hepatitis A, E and C. None was positive for hepatitis C. Only one patient was positive for both Anti HEV IgM and Anti HAV IgM.

Liver function test was done in 19 HBsAg positive cases only. Most common finding was rise of  SGPT (63.17%) followed by rise of SGOT (52.64%), alkaline phosphatase (58%), indirect bilirubin (58%). None had raised total and direct serum bilirubin.

Thus we concludes that hepatitis C is uncommon in our area and both hepatitis B and C are less  common in religious elderly person  while pregnant females and non-pregnant females, blood donor have high HBsAg positive carrier status.