DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i01.099

Pages: 498-503

Co-infection of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the simultaneous presence of these viruses in a host. One third of HIV-infected individuals suffer from chronic HCV infection. Chronic HBV infection on the other hand occurs in 10% of HIV-infected persons. The consequences of associated hepatitis B and C virus infection on HIV patients are quite enormous. This paper aims at studying the effects of hepatitis B and C virus co-infection in HIV-patients. This article reviews peer- reviewed literature and expert opinion published from 2000 to 2014 in medical journals, health databases, books, health survey reports, electronic libraries and health-related websites. The evidences from the studies conducted show that despite the fact that highly active antiretroviral therapy has dramatically improved the prognosis of those with HIV disease, the consequences of associated illness such as hepatitis B and C have grave consequences on these individuals and are currently among the leading causes of hospital admission and death in the HIV infected population. It is obvious that the prevalence of HBV/HCV coinfection in HIV infected patients is very common owing to shared route of transmission of these viruses. Therefore, adequate management of viral hepatitis should now be considered a priority in HIV co-infected patients.