Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among tuberculosis patients

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is a common health problem in the world. Sudan is among the countries with the highest prevalence for tuberculosis andHBV, HCV infections. Co infection with viral hepatitis (HBV, HCV) among tuberculosis patients increases the risk of hepatotoxicity occurring during tuberculosis treatment, so itis important to know the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and Cviruses among tuberculosis patients.
Objectives: To investigate seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among adult tuberculosis patients in tuberculosis center at Tropical Diseases Teaching Hospital (TDH).
Methodology: This is a prospective cross sectional study, conducted in the period from December 2010 to October 2011 in tuberculosis center in TDH- Sudan. 200 adult tuberculosis patients (age 19years and above) were enrolled in this study, data were collected by using questionnaire. All patients' blood samples were tested for HBsAg and hepatitis C virus antibodies. Results were analyzed by using SPSS16 (Statistical package for social science16)
Results: A total number of 200 confirmed tuberculosis patients were studied. 127 patients (63.5%) were males. The seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in this study were9.5% and 3.5% respectively.Two patients (1%) were infected with both infections. The HBV vaccination among the study group was 6%.
Conclusion: The HBV andHCV infectionsare common among tuberculosis patients with seroprevalence of 9.5%and 3.5% for HBV and HCV respectively. Our study also showed that there are multiple risk factors for contracting HBV and HCV infections in our patients, so screening for these virusesshould be included in the national TB control program.

Keywords: mycobacterium, East Mediterranean, hepatotoxicity.