الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 135 |  |  |
| | | from | 135 | | |
Abstract
Chronic HCV is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, and the most common indication for liver transplantation in developed countries.
The population of Egypt has a heavy burden of liver disease, mostly due to chronic infection with HCV. Overall prevalence of antibody to HCV in the general population is around 15-20%.
HCV infection is more common in males than females and among rural individuals when compared to urban individuals. Assays which detect HCV antibodies have been available since 1989 and are currently the standard tools for screening blood and organ donations as well as diagnostic testing. Antibody prevalence in blood donors ranged from 6%-38% and averaged approximately 15 %.
Serologic surveys at state and local levels can characterize regional and local variations in prevalence of HCV infection, identify populations at high risk, monitor trends and evaluate prevention programs.
Intrafamilial transmission is considered and transmission between spouses is often assumed to be sexual. However, other routes of transmission between married couples and other family members are possible. Some studies have found high rates of infection among nonspouse household transmission. It is supported by the fact that HCV RNA has often been found in the saliva of patients with and without serum HCV RNA (Hermide et al., 2000).
Our study is a cross- sectional analytic study with an intervention. It was conducted in time frame of one year (from the first of May, 2013 to the first of May, 2014).This study will include family members of 100 previously diagnosed HCV positive patients (index patients) of low socioeconomic level in Menoufiya governorate (No.100) as well as their family members (No.427).
The main objectives were to assess the extent of intrafamilial transmission of HCV disease among low socioeconomic population in Menoufiya governorate.
Prevalence of HCV in family members of HCV positive patient was 20.14%. Risk factors for intrafamilial transmission among low socioeconomic population may include common hand and face towels, nail cutters, mosquito, fleas and tics bites, skin tattoo, wound sutures, blood donation, IV injections, presence of HCV infected family member at home, using condom at intercourse, common shaving blades and sexual diseases.
The intrafamilial pattern of spread of HCV infection was 37.2% between spouses, was 29.1% from parent to their children and was 33.7% between brothers and sisters.
The Prevalence of HCV infection in family members was significantly higher among spouses of HCV positive patient 37.2%.
These results spotlight on the role of educational level among partners in increase the rate of viral transmission among families, there was statistical significant difference between positive and negative cases regarding educational level.
The intraspousal transmission of HCV infection, the wife to husband transmission (56.3%) is higher than husband to wife transmission (43.7%).
Regarding age, the prevalence of HCV positive was significantly higher among family members of HCV positive spouses (46.21±13.94) than negative ones (29.16±7.83).
Regarding duration of marriage, The prevalence of HCV positive was significantly higher among family members of HCV positive spouses (21.58±13.47) than negative ones (12.19±8.62).
These results spotlight on the role of using common tooth brush among partners in increasing the rate of viral transmission among families, the overall rate of HCV positive regarding using common tooth brush was significantly higher between positive (36.04%) than negative (15.83%) cases. which indicate that HCV may be transmitted via the social relation among different family members and saliva may play a role in its transmission.
The prevalence of HCV positive regarding bilharzial treatment injection was significantly higher between positive (17.44%) than negative (5.28%) cases.
The prevalence of HCV positive regarding previous surgeries was significantly higher between positive (22.09%) than negative (15.84%) cases.
The prevalence of HCV positive regarding common syringes was significantly higher between positive (15.12%) than negative (2.93%) cases.
The prevalence of HCV positive regarding dental procedures was significantly higher between positive (47.67%) than negative (21.99%) cases.
These results spotlight on the role of using common shaving blades among partners in increasing the rate of viral transmission among families. The prevalence of HCV positive regarding using common shaving blades was significantly higher between positive (45.34%) than negative (19.35%) cases.