FREQUENCY OF HEPATITIS B & C IN GYNAECOLOGICAL PATIENTS

Frequency of Hepatitis B & C

Abstract

Objective: To determine the hospital based prevalence of hepatitis B and C in elective surgical patients of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 
Design:  A descriptive study.
Place and Duration: The study was conducted in Military Hospital Rawalpindi from 25 Aug 2004 to 19 Dec 2005.
Patients and Methods: A total of 1502 patients ranging from 20 to 70 years (Mean age 37 SD ± 12), admitted for elective surgery in Gynaecology department, were screened for hepatitis B and C. 
Results: Hepatitis C was positive in 156(10.39%) patients, while hepatitis B was positive in only 20 (1.33%) patients and both hepatitis B & C were positive in 5 (0.33%) patients. Overall hepatitis viruses were positive in 181(12.5%) patients.
Conclusion: Seroprevalence of hepatitis, especially hepatitis C is high in Gynaecology/obstetric patients. All patients undergoing surgical/invasive procedure should be screened for Hepatitis B & C.