MOTHER TO INFANT TRANSMISSION - - OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN RURAL AND SEMI-URBAN AREAS IN MENOUFIYA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) appears to be widely distributed around the world. The prevalence of infection in the majority of Western European and North American populations varies from 0.1 - 2.0% of the population, increasing to 3% in some Mediterranean countries and up to 6% in tropical areas.

The prevalence of HCV in Egypt as reported from different Egyptian and non-Egyptian studies is higher than those mentioned above and many of these studies reported a prevalence of more than 20% of the population.

HCV is transmitted by exposure to blood and blood products, sexual contact, household contact, perinatal contact and exposure of unknown origin.

Persons receiving frequent blood transfusion, haemodialysis patients, drug abusers, health care workers, household contacts and heterosexuals are at higher risk of acquiring the infection.

The issue of mother to infant transmission of HCV infection has. been a controversial one in the last few years, so we tried to share in this controversy by studying the potential risk of vertical transmission of HCV from pregnant mothers to their neonates in Menoufiya Governorate.