Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Sudan

Review

(3476) Views  (1134) Full article downloads

Author: Hatim MY Mudawi

Published Date November 2008 Volume 2008:1 Pages 9 - 13

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S3887

Hatim MY Mudawi

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract: Hepatitis virus infections are the most common cause of liver disease worldwide. Sudan is classified among the countries with high hepatitis B virus seroprevalence. Exposure to the virus varied from 47%–78%, with a hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence ranging from 6.8% in central Sudan to 26% in southern Sudan. Studies pointed to infection in early childhood in southern Sudan while there was a trend of increasing infection rate with increasing age in northern Sudan. Hepatitis B virus was the commonest cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma and was the second commonest cause of acute liver failure in the Sudan. Studies of hepatitis C virus showed a low seroprevalence of 2.2%–4.8% and there was no association with schistosomiasis or with parenteral antischistosomal therapy. Hepatitis E virus was the commonest cause of acute hepatitis among pediatric, adult, and displaced populations. Recent introduction of screening of blood and blood products for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections and the introduction of hepatitis B virus vaccine as part of the extended program of immunization is expected to reduce the infection rate of these viruses in the Sudan.

Keywords: hepatitis, Sudan, liver disease