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Pakistan has 4.9 million Hepatitis B virus carriers

KARACHI : An estimated 4.9 million carriers of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) are present in Pakistan, where inadequate medical practices invite more harm than good, said a top Pakistani authority on liver diseases.

Prof Sarwar Jehan Zuberi, renowned gastroenterologist, was speaking at the 6th symposium on ‘Excellence in Dialysis: Update in Nephrology’, jointly organised by the Kidney Foundation and International Society of Nephrology.

She said that three per cent blood donors, 2.7 per cent pregnant women, five per cent children, 28 per cent patients with acute viral hepatitis, 29 per cent with chronic liver disease and 35 per cent with liver cancer had been found infected with HBV.

"Among recipients of multiple transfusions, seven per cent thalassaemics and 13 per cent patients on haemodialysis were found positive for HBV," Dr Zuberi shared her study with the audience.

According to the gastroenterologist, among health care workers, 18 per cent dentists, 17 per cent lab technicians, nine per cent paramedics, seven per cent doctors and seven per cent nurses were found positive.

According to the gastroenterologist, risk factors regarding hepatitis include unsafe injection practices and inadequate screening facilities at blood banks. She estimated 5.6-8.4 million carriers of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the country.

She said about 3.4 per cent blood donors, 6.7 per cent pregnant women, 1.1 per cent children and 34 per cent patients with chronic liver disease and 52 per cent with hepatocellular carcinoma were anti-HCV positive.

"Among healthcare workers, 12 per cent doctors and seven per cent nurses were HCV positive," Dr Zuberi informed. "At least 46 per cent patients on haemodialysis and 52 per cent thalassaemics were HCV positive."

Dr Jaffar Naqvi, chief executive of the Kidney Foundation, said 70 million people were suffering of hepatitis B and C worldwide, whereas Pakistan was an endemic country for all types of human hepatitis.

"Prevalence among general public for hepatitis B is 7.5 per cent and hepatitis C 10 per cent," he noted. "Among blood donors, anti-HCV prevalence of 20 per cent have been reported."

According to the nephrologists, HCV had assumed an epidemic proportion among the dialysis population in Pakistan and more than 40 per cent prevalence had been reported from three large dialysis centres.

"India has reported a prevalence ranging between 12.1 to 50 per cent," he told the symposium participants. "There has been an alarming rise in anti-HCV in developing countries as compared to developed countries, where a steady decline is reported."

Prof Fazal Akhter from the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) presented his data regarding hepatitis B and C infection in renal transplantation. Dr Allan J Collins from USA delivered his lecture on ‘quality of preventive health care in chronic kidney disease patients’.


	Pakistan has 4.9 million Hepatitis B virus carriers KARACHI : An estimated 4.9 million carriers of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) are present in Pakistan, where inadequate medical practices invite more harm than good, said a top Pakistani authority on liver diseases. Prof Sarwar Jehan Zuberi, renowned gastroenterologist, was speaking at the 6th symposium on ‘Excellence in Dialysis: Update in Nephrology’, jointly organised by the Kidney Foundation and International Society of Nephrology. She said that three per cent blood donors, 2.7 per cent pregnant women, five per cent children, 28 per cent patients with acute viral hepatitis, 29 per cent with chronic liver disease and 35 per cent with liver cancer had been found infected with HBV. "Among recipients of multiple transfusions, seven per cent thalassaemics and 13 per cent patients on haemodialysis were found positive for HBV," Dr Zuberi shared her study with the audience. According to the gastroenterologist, among health care workers, 18 per cent dentists, 17 per cent lab technicians, nine per cent paramedics, seven per cent doctors and seven per cent nurses were found positive. According to the gastroenterologist, risk factors regarding hepatitis include unsafe injection practices and inadequate screening facilities at blood banks. She estimated 5.6-8.4 million carriers of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in the country. She said about 3.4 per cent blood donors, 6.7 per cent pregnant women, 1.1 per cent children and 34 per cent patients with chronic liver disease and 52 per cent with hepatocellular carcinoma were anti-HCV positive. "Among healthcare workers, 12 per cent doctors and seven per cent nurses were HCV positive," Dr Zuberi informed. "At least 46 per cent patients on haemodialysis and 52 per cent thalassaemics were HCV positive." Dr Jaffar Naqvi, chief executive of the Kidney Foundation, said 70 million people were suffering of hepatitis B and C worldwide, whereas Pakistan was an endemic country for all types of human hepatitis. "Prevalence among general public for hepatitis B is 7.5 per cent and hepatitis C 10 per cent," he noted. "Among blood donors, anti-HCV prevalence of 20 per cent have been reported." According to the nephrologists, HCV had assumed an epidemic proportion among the dialysis population in Pakistan and more than 40 per cent prevalence had been reported from three large dialysis centres. "India has reported a prevalence ranging between 12.1 to 50 per cent," he told the symposium participants. "There has been an alarming rise in anti-HCV in developing countries as compared to developed countries, where a steady decline is reported." Prof Fazal Akhter from the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) presented his data regarding hepatitis B and C infection in renal transplantation. Dr Allan J Collins from USA delivered his lecture on ‘quality of preventive health care in chronic kidney disease patients’.
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