Prevalence of Hepatitis B & C in Bahawalpur Region, Punjab, Pakistan.

Abstract

Hepatitis is a worldwide problem. Until now, six types of viruses related to hepatitis has been discovered and among them hepatitis B and C virus are most prominent. Both of these viruses can be spread easily and can cause significant health damage. Blood transfusion, unprotected sex and reuse of used syringes and razors are the main reasons for transferring the virus. ICT kits are easily available in market which were used to detect the presence of hepatitis B and C. These kits are easy to use but their efficiency is not 100%. This study was conducted to observe the ratio of hepatitis in Bahawalpur region and it was observed that overall incidence of HCV is more as compared to HBV. The percentage prevalence in male population (37%) was higher than female population (35%) and the percentage of HCV is higher in poor families (41%) than middle class families (33%).   Furthermore, virus was more prevalent in middle aged   male then younger and older persons. As hepatitis is frequently propagating among the people of Pakistan, which causing great lose of man power and economy every year. However, Public awareness through health education program and seminars should be held in regular interval, and vaccination programs to decrease the burden of HBV and HCV from the population of Bahawalpur Punjab province of Pakistan. There is an urgent need to undertake such studies in other populations so that populations with higher prevalence can be identified and ways can be devised for the prevention and cure of these viral infections.