الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONيوجد فقط 14 صفحة متاحة للعرض العام
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المستخلص
HCV infection is found world wide .About 3-4 million people are infected per year and more than 350000 people die yearly from hepatitis C related diseases.
Prevalence of HCV is higher in some countries in Africa and Asia. Egypt has the highest HCV prevalence in the world. Egypt has an extremely high rate of hepatitis C virus, varies from14.7% -22%of the population.
Studies in Egypt reported an average HCV prevalence of about 7% in rural school children, 8.7% among children with acute viral hepatitis, 5.8% of HCV infection among healthy Egyptian Children.
HCV is predominantly a parenteral acquired pathogen, other forms of contact with human blood and/or secretions may lead to HCV infection but likely with a lower frequency. Major known modes of transmission include:
• Blood transfusion or any of its derivatives
• Organ transplant
• Injection treatment for schistosomiasis
• Needle-stick injuries
• Hospitalization
• Medical and dental procedures
• Injection drug use
• Mother to child
• Intra-familial transmission
The primary route of transmission in the developed world is intravenous drug use (IDU), while in the developing world the main methods are blood transfusions and unsafe medical procedures. The cause of transmission remains unknown in 20% of cases.
Research on the role of familial transmission in the spread of HCV has been inconclusive .A number of studies have also suggested intra familial transmission though the exact exposures responsible are not clear and others suggested relative contribution of intra familial transmission to HCV spread seems to be limited.
The aim of our research is to assess seroprevelance of HCV infection among siblings of children with chronic HCV positive infection attending Alexandria University children’s hospital.
In our study Serology and questionnaire data were available from 250 siblings contacts of 100index HCV positive patient (positive PCR for at least 6 months) and 250 siblings contacts of the100 index HCV negative patient.
All studied children were subjected to following:
A closed ended questionnaire was applied to the household contacts of studied children. Mothers supplied information for children below the age of 12years. asking about:
• Socio demographic characteristics including age, sex, education, residence of the patient whether urban or rural and the socioeconomic class that was calculated according to the modified social score for family social leveling (modified after Fahmy and El-Sherbini 1983). Appendix C
• History of exposure to common risk factors associated with HCV transmission include:
Intravenous access (history of blood or blood product transfusion including albumin, IV catheters, previous intravenous injections.
Previous hospital admission (including NICU).
Surgical procedures (circumcision, sutures, abscess drainage, surgical biopsy, dental maneuvers, urinary catheter and endoscopy).
Folk medicine practice, tattooing, shaving at barber, pedicure, manicure, needle pricks including ear piercing.