Prevalence of Hepatitis in Paediatric Oncologic Patients: A Single Centre Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Oncologic problems are increasing day by day very rapidly. It includes leukaemia, solid tumors, germ cell tumors and many others. Leukaemia is a growing reason of paediatric mortality. Children with leukaemia, usually have low blood count which requires blood transfusions. These transfusions can lead to transfusion associated viral infections particularly Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Objective: To identify the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV infections in paediatric oncology patients and to identify the probable relation of transfusion with that of the spread of the infection and its detection method. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at molecular department of Child Aid Association Karachi from January 2013 to December 2015. A sample size of 200 paediatric oncology patients was taken. The samples were processed by Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Result: The results showed that out of 200 patients, 17 were HBV positive having a prevalence rate of 8.5% and 69 were HCV positive with prevalence rate of 34.5%. Among 17 HBV positive patients, no patient was infected before the start of treatment while 03 out of 69 HCV positive patients were previously infected. Conclusion: The incidence of HCV and HBV is raising in the paediatric oncology patients on treatment. This demonstrates that the management may be responsible for this predicament. These patients are exposed to cytotoxic and chemotherapeutic drug infusions and multiple
blood transfusions. Therefore blood transfusion practices should meet the standard operating procedures which ensure the use of sterilized equipments and the donors should be screened for viral hepatitis through PCR.