Abstract
Background Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV infection worldwide. This project aimed at identifying the role of HCV transmission among household contacts to index cases in the persistent high incidence of HCV infection in Egypt. Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 70 Egyptian cases with chronic liver diseases and their household contacts (140 contacts) from Qalubeyia Governorate. An interview questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors to HCV infection. HCV-RNA was tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to estimate the risk of HCV infection among contacts. Results HCV viremia was detected in 85.7% of cases and 20% of contacts. HCV-RNA was detected in higher proportion of household contacts to cases than the general population. Contacts to HCV-positive cases were unlikely exposed to used syringe (P=0.02) and unlikely to have history of Bilharziasis (P=0.001) compared to contacts to HCV-negative cases. HCV-positive contacts were more likely older (P < 0.001) and married (P=0.008) and had higher crowding index (P=0.04) than HCV-negative contacts. Also, HCV-positive contacts were more likely exposed to blood transfusion (P=0.008) and shaving at community barber (P=0.04) and had history of Bilharziasis (P=0.01). The strongest predictors for HCV infection among contacts were old age (OR, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.02 to 1.15; P=0.01) and blood transfusion (8.08, 1.75 to 37.3; P=0.007). Conclusion Nonetheless, household contacts to HCV cases are exposed to increased risk of HCV infection, and environmental exposure particularly blood transfusion remained a major source of HCV infection.
Highlights
In 2008, the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey reported that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was 14.7%, which was the highest prevalence of HCV in the world
HCV Infection Remained the Main Cause of Chronic Liver Diseases. is cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C infection among household contacts to infected cases. e study examined 70 patients with chronic liver disease, of whom 60 were infected with chronic hepatitis C and 10 had liver disease due to causes other than HCV infection
E results of the study revealed that HCV infection remained the main cause of chronic liver diseases with a prevalence rate of 85.7% among cases, while the overall prevalence of HCV in the household contacts of both cases and controls was 20%
Summary
In 2008, the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey reported that the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was 14.7%, which was the highest prevalence of HCV in the world. [1] In 2013, the prevalence of HCV viremia was 7.3% due to the high mortality among old people with high prevalence of infection. [2] While in 2015, the prevalence of active HCV-infected cases was 4.4 [3].A new era in the elimination of viral hepatitis has launched in 2015 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which called on the international community to combat hepatitis. An interview questionnaire, which was reviewed and approved in previous studies [13,14,15], was used to collect information on personal data, socioeconomic characteristics, present and past health, and risk factors for exposure to HCV infection including history of surgical operations, dental procedures, blood transfusion, schistosomiasis treatment, contaminated needles or puncture, prior hospitalization, shared use of toothbrushes or shaving razors, common tools for nail trimming, circumcision, condom use, drug abuse, smoking, wet cupping (higama), tattooing, and multiple sexual partners.
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