Bangladesh JOURNAL of Child Health

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Multitransfused Thalassaemic Children in Dhaka, Bangladesh


Abstract: Background: Thalassaemia is a congenital hemolytic disease caused by defective globin chain synthesis of haemoglobin and largely treated by repeated blood transfusions. Transfusion-transmitted infections still make a great challenge in the management of patients with thalassaemia major. The most important worldwide transfusion transmitted infections (TTI) are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Despite concern about a possible increase in the incidence of these infections there are no recent data about the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV from Bangladesh. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus in multi-transfused thalassaemia patients (MTP), to identify the possible risk factors and to evaluate the effect of compulsory screening of blood to prevent these infections. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2011 to 2012 on 100 consecutive multi-transfused thalassaemic patients who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and tested for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (Anti-HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (Anti-HIV 1+2).

 

Download PDF