Dental Treatment As A Source of Infection For Hepatitis B and C

Abstract

This study has been conducted over 3 groups of individuals:

- First group consists of 1002 (one thousand and two patients) to give us an idea bout hepatitis B and C prevalence in the Egyptian population. Bilharziasis, blood diseases and history of liver disease patients had been excluded from this group. Liver enzymes and polymerase chain reaction for hepatitis B and C and previous dental history have been investigated within the last 18 months.

Second group consists of 101 (one hundred and one patients) of the

· negative cases from the first group and to study hepatitis B and C

incidence in this group without any dental treatment done in a period of

1.5-3 years and questionnaire was done after second blood investigation to give us an idea bout the expected causative factor for infection (if found).

- Third group consists of 101 (one hundred and one patients) ofthe negative cases also from the first group, to study the hepatitis B and C incidence in dentally treated patients and the other blood investigations done and enzymes after 1.5-3 years after dental treatment and also questionnaire was done for all the patients.

Hepatitis C prevalence was 28.6% in the first group and 9.1% in case of hepatitis B, and this is considered a very high prevalence rate in comparison to the other countries.

The first group was divided into 3 subgroups regarding age and 4 classes regarding socioeconomic level and also types of dental treatment.