Epidemiology of Hepatitis C virusamong thalassemia patients in Al-Muthanna Province for period from 2019 to 2021

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of blood transfusion problems, including thalassemia.  A total of 1125 patients with thalassemia participated in this study (635 Males and 490 females with age range 2-23 years), for the period from 1/1/2019 to 30/12/2021. The Thalassemia patients were previously diagnosed by clinical signs, complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin tests in addition to PCR assay. the average blood transfusion was 3 times per month. A total of 1125 patients were tested to diagnosed anti-HCV antibody(IgG) in serum by ELISA.The total number of Hepatitis C virus infections 111 (9.8%).The year 2020 was the highest in the number and percentage of Thalassemia patients 400 (36%) and the infection with the Hepatitis C virus 41 (36.9%) compared with 2019 and 2021. The percentage of infection with the Hepatitis C virus among malesThalassemia patients is the highest compare with females. The single status was the highest in the percentage of the infection with the Hepatitis C virus compared with married, widowed and divorced states. The rural residency was the highest in the number and percentage of the infection with the Hepatitis C virus compared with urban residency. we recommend continuous laboratory examination of blood donors and Thalassemia patients, as well as the using of molecular biology techniques such as PCR assay in the early diagnosis of the virus to reduce the process of transmission of the virus and eliminate it.