Prevalence of HBS and HCV in euthyroid persons of Southern Punjab - A hospital based study

Background: infection by hbv and hcv is the most serious health problem in our country especially in the southern punjab. very few studies exist on incidence of this infection but they hardly reflect our general population. aim: to find the prevalence of hepatic infection in the general population of southern punjab. methods: a total of 120 euthyroid patients (males: 36 females: 84) who visited minar for thyroid tests during december 2010-11 were included in this study. the mean age of these persons was 30.7±.09 years (range 18-52 years). the patients with thyroid disorders and other infectious or non-infectious disease were excluded. serum was tested for hbc and hcv detection using commercially supplied kits of hbs (one step test device) and hcv (one step test device) for qualitative detection of hbs or hcv. the principle of the test was rapid chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection hbs and ani-hcv. t3,t4 and tsh were measured by ria methods. results: out of 120 subjects 4(3.3%) were found positive for hbsag and 18(15%) were found positive for anti-hcv. statistical comparison of this data showed that prevalence of hcv infection was about 4 times higher than hbv infection (p=0.00028). prevalence of hbsag in males (8%) was significantly higher than females (1.2%; p<0.006345) whereas prevalence of hcv in males (16.7%) was not significantly different from females ((14.2%;p=0.521303). comparison of groups of males positive for hcv and hbs showed that the incidence of hcv infection (16.7%) was significantly higher than hbs (8.33%). (p=0.0102). similarly comparison of groups of females positive for hcv and hbs showed that the incidence of hcv infection (14.2%) was significantly higher p=0.000011) than hbs (1.2%). conclusion: the increased level of hcv infection in our population is alarming and needs extensive studies and preventive measures in future.