Project Materials

HEPATITIS C VIRUS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AIDS ATTENDING CLINIC

ABSTRACT

A total of 50 blood samples (30 pregnant and 20 HIV) were collected from pregnant women and PLWHA who visited the clinic at UNTH Ituku-ozalla. The Rapid One Step Hepatitis C Virus Test Strip was used to screen samples for hepatitis C viral infection. Two (6.66%) pregnant women and four (20%) HIV patients tested positive for Hepatitis C, resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 26.7%. The infection was the same in men (3) and women (3). Those aged 23 to 34 years had a higher incidence (20%) than those aged 19 to 23. This greater prevalence of hepatitis C shows that pregnant women and PLWHA may be at risk of contracting hepatitis C virus. As a result, systematic screening of pregnant women and PLWHA should be implemented to ensure early detection and management of cases.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis can be caused by a variety of viruses, including HCV. Hepatitis is defined as liver inflammation (Ryan and Ray, 2004). It is unrelated to other prevalent hepatitis viruses (such as hepatitis A and B).

HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family, specifically the Hepaci virus genus. The virus exists in at least six distinct strains, each with its own genetic profile (genotype). In the United States, genotype 1 is the most frequent type of HCV.

Variations can occur even within a single genotype (for example, genotypes 1a and 1b). Genotyping is critical for treatment planning because some virus genotypes react better to medication than others (Wilkins et al. 2009).

According to Hepatitis C NSW (2010), here are some of the things that can happen once the body catch hepatitis C. The body may deal with hepatitis C on its own, and you may not get sick.

Approximately 25% of persons who have hepatitis C will recover (although this is less common in people with HIV). Hepatitis C infection is often eliminated from the body within 12 months of infection for a variety of reasons.

Hepatitis C may stay in the body. Approximately three-quarters of those who have hepatitis C will develop chronic infection. This signifies that they have had detectable hepatitis C virus in their blood for more than a year, as shown by a PCR test. People in this category may develop liver problems over time.

The genetic diversity of HCV is one of the reasons why developing an effective vaccine has been difficult, as the vaccine must defend against all genotypes. The human immune system has a tough time eliminating HCV from the body, and HCV infection is frequently persistent.

Chronic HCV infection can damage the liver over time and lead to liver failure. Up to 85% of newly infected patients fail to clear the virus and become chronically sick. Infection is most usually identified in adults aged 40 to 60, which reflects the high infection rates in the 1970s and 80s.

Every year, 8,000 to 10,000 people die in the United States as a result of HCV infections. HCV infection is the largest cause of liver transplantation in the United States, and it increases the chance of developing liver cancer.

The majority of the signs and symptoms of HCV infection are liver-related. Less frequently, HCV infection affects diseases outside of the liver. Symptoms are typically modest and ambiguous, such as a decreased appetite, lethargy, nausea, and fever. Headache, muscular or joint pain, and loss of weight.

Hepatitis C eventually becomes the leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Cirrhosis affects around 10-30% of people during the course of 30 years (Meisel et al. 1995). HCV infection can cause the body to manufacture atypical antibodies known as ‘cryoglobulins’.

These cryoglobulins promote inflammation of the arteries (vasculitis), which can harm the skin, joints, and kidney. Furthermore, these patients may develop Raynaud’s phenomenon, which causes the fingers and toes to alter colour (white, purple, and red) and become uncomfortable in cold temperatures (Iannuzzella and Vaglio, 2010).

Two skin disorders, lichen planus and porphyria cutaneatarda, have been linked to chronic HCV infection. HCV has also been linked to B-cell lymphoma, a type of lymphatic cancer. Doctors use a variety of tests to determine whether a person has hepatitis C.

One type of test detects antibodies in the blood, indicating that a person has been exposed to HCV. The two most common antibody tests are ELISA and RIBA.

Viral load tests determine the amount of HCV genetic material in the blood; the two most common viral load tests are PCR and bDNA.

Who should be tested for the Hepatitis C virus?

According to MMWR (1998), people who have ever injected illegal drugs or been on chronic (long-term) haemodialysis;

Individuals with persistently abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels.

Individuals who were informed that they had received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV infection;

Individuals who received a transfusion of blood or blood components and an organ transplant before July 1992;

Healthcare, emergency medical, and public safety workers following needle sticks or mucosal exposures to HCV-positive blood

Children are born to HCV-positive women.

1.2 Objectives of the Study

1. Determine the prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in pregnant women attending antenatal care at UNTH Ituku-ozalla.

2. To find the age distribution where the infection is most prevalent.

3. To assess the prevalence of hepatitis virus in HIV/AIDS patients at UNTH Ituku-ozalla.