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Hepatitis C Virus Among Pregnant Womenpeople Living With Hivaids Attending Clinic At Unth Itukuozalla
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Most of the signs and symptoms of HCV infection relate to the liver.
Less commonly, HCV infection causes conditions outside of the liver.
Symptoms are generally mild and vague, including a decreased appetite,
fatigue, nausea, fever. Headache, muscle or joint pains, and weigh
loss.Hepatitis C after many years
becomes the primary cause of
cirrhosis and liver cancer. About 10–30% of people develop cirrhosis
over 30 years (Meisel, et al. 1995).
HCV infection can cause the body
to produce unusual antibodies called 'cryoglobulins'. These
cryoglobulins cause inflammation of the arteries (vasculitis) which may
damage the skin, joints, and kidneys. In addition, these patients may
develop Raynaud's phenomenon in which the fingers and toes turn color
(white, then purple, then red) and become painful at cold
temperatures(Iannuzzella, and Vaglio, 2010).
Two skin conditions,
lichen planus and porphyria cutaneatarda, have been associated with
chronic infection with HCV. HCV also is associated with B-cell lymphoma,
a cancer of the lymph system.
Doctors use various tests to determine
if a person has hepatitis C. One type of test measures antibodies in
the blood, indicating that a person been exposed to HCV; the two most
common antibody tests are called ELISA and RIBA. Viral load tests
measure how much HCV genetic material is present in the blood; the two
most common viral load tests are called PCR and bDNA.
Who to test for hepatitis c virus
According to MMWR (1998) Persons who ever injected illegal drugs,
Persons who were ever on chronic (long-term) hemodialysis;
Persons with persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase level
Persons who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection;
Persons who received a transfusion of blood or blood components and organ transplant before July 1992; and
Healthcare, emergency medical and public safety workers after needle sticks, or mucosal exposures to HCV-positive blood
Children born to HCV-positive women.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
i. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus in pregnant women attending ante-natal in UNTH Ituku-ozalla
ii. To determine the age distribution where the infection occurs most
iii. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis virus in people living with HIV and AIDS attending UNTH Ituku-ozalla
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]A total of 50 blood (30 pregnant and 20 HIV) samples were obtained from pregnant women and PLWHA attending clinic at UNTH Ituku-ozalla. Samples were screened for hepatitis c viral infection using the rapid one step hepatitis C virus test strip. Two (6.66%) pregnant women were positive and four (20%) HIV patients were positive for Hepatitis C, giving an overall prevalence rate of (26.7%). The infection was the same in male (3) and in female (3). Those aged 23-34 years recorded a higher prevalence ... Continue reading---
