Abstract

Background: Beta thalassemia is one of the major hemolytic diseases of childhood. Multiple blood transfusions can lead to transmitted infections. Hepatitis C infection is relatively more frequent than hepatitis B infection in thalassemia patients after multiple transfusions.

Aim: To determine the frequency of hepatitis B and C in beta thalassemia major with multiple blood transfusions.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Medicine, Mayo Hospital, Lahore from January to July 2018. Total of 300 patients, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study by non-probability convenient sampling. Age, gender, and frequency of blood transfusion were recorded. About 3ml venous blood was sent to the laboratory for screening of hepatitis B and C by ELISA. Data was entered in SPSS 24 and was analyzed for frequencies.

Results: The mean age of patients was 9.76±5.26 years. There were 150(50%) males and 150(50%) females. There were 28(9.3%) patients with positive HBV. There were 95(31.7%) patients with positive HCV.

Conclusion: Although the frequency of HBV was low, HCV was high in multi-transfused children of beta thalassemia major.

Key words: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, beta thalassemia major, multiple blood transfusions