SOME ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING HEPATITIS C VIRUS PREVALENCE IN EGYPT

Abstract

This study was performed on a total of 141 3 subjects divided into I five groups. Group I consisted of 500 blood donors, Group 2 con sisted of

200 patients undergoing haemodial ysis, Group 3 co nsisted of 1 73 patients attending a gastroenterology clinic and who were positive to anti-HCV, Group 4 consisted of 115 patients who were negative to anti­ HCY. Finally, Group 5 consisted of 104 nursing staff and 321 hospital clerical staff. I I Fifty of the patients with Hepatitis C received interferon therapy I I and all patients in groups 3 and 4 were given a questionnaire to complete,

specifically formulated to attempt to uncover some of the risk factors I associated with HCV infection. The spouses and children of HCV I infected patients were also tested for anti-HCY and the fi les of a number of patients from the HCV group and from the co ntrol group were scrutinized to determine the effect of HCY infection on absenteeism from I work. I The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of HCY I infection in the above mentioned groups, to assess the value of interferon I in the treatment of HCY infection in Egypt, to determine some of the I factors in volved in transmission of HCV infectio n in Egypt and to throw

some light on the financial impact of HCV infection in Egypt.