DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i05.019

Pages: 1596-1600

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major public health concerns. HIV positive individuals are at increased risk of coinfection with HBV and HCV infections due to the high degree of epidemiological similarity. The study population included 120 HIV positive infected patients, tested in ICTC (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre), and 120 HIV negative individuals who were volunteer blood donors. Blood samples were subjected to serological analysis for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies, using Rapid Immunochromatography test and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Out of 120 HIV positive individuals, HBV coinfection was detected in eight (6.7%) patients and HCV coinfection was detected in only one (0.8%) patient. None of the HIV infected patients were positive for both HBV and HCV infections. The most common risk factor of HIV, HBV and HCV, in our study population, was found to be the sexual behaviour. Among the HIV negative individuals, two (1.7%) participants were having HBV infection. HCV antibodies were not detected among the HIV negative population. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among the HIV positive individuals was higher, when compared with HIV negative individuals. HBV-HIV and HCV-HIV co-infections were more common in patients, belonging to the age group of 35 to 55 years, mostly in men, and in those who were married and exhibited polygamous activity. Clearly, all HIV infected patients should be screened for HBV and HCV, taking into account shared pathways of transmission.