Summary:
Objective: To find out the seroprevalence of the hepatitis B
and C viruses in a young adult population along with
estimation of aminotransferase levels. And so as to increase
the awareness and augment preventive measures against these
viral hepatitis related morbidity.
Methods: A total of 2611 apparently healthy young adults
were screened from January 2010 to December 2010 at a
Medical Checkup center of Sylhet for hepatitis B surface
antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus antibody (anti HCV),
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspertate
aminotransferase (AST) levels.
Results: Out of 2611 subjects 2536(97.1%) were male and
75(2.9%) were female with comparable mean ages (29.08 vs.
30.6 years, P .056). A total of 77(3.0%) men were HBsAg
positive and only four (0.16%) men were positive for anti
HCV. Women were all negative for HBsAg or anti HCV.
None had co-infection with HBV and HCV. Mean ALT and
AST levels of study population were 31.85 I.U./L and 26.18
I.U./L respectively and were not found to vary with age and
sex. Mean ALT levels were more in in HBsAg positive cases
(42.03 I.U/L vs. 31.5 I.U./L, P .000) and HCV infected cases
(49 I.U./L vs. 31.51 I.U./L, P.000) than non-infected persons.
Conclusion: Hepatitis B infection is of intermediate
endemicity among young adults while hepatitis C virus
infection is low among this group. Mean amino transferase
levels were higher in asymptomatic infected persons in
comparison to non-infected person. We suggest the need for
revision of upper limit of normal for ALT in our population
for early detection and treatment of liver diseases.
Key Words: Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alanine
amino-transferase, young adults.
(J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2016; 34: 199-205)