Epidemiological Aspects of Intrafamilial Spread of HCV Infection in Egyptian Population: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Aim: Liver disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Egyptians. The major cause is infection with HCV, with 70 000 up to 140 000 newly reported cases annually. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among household contacts of HCV index cases and to identify the possible risk factors of transmission of HCV among Egyptian families. Material and Methods: The present external pilot study (double centre study) was performed on a convenient sample of 125 index cases and their 321 household family contacts recruited from Mansoura & Cairo University where 2 questionnaires were used to collect data from the index & their related contacts. The all were exposed to clinical examinations, routine laboratory testing & screening for the prevalence of Anti-HCV antibodies. Results: The prevalence of anti-HCV seropositivity among household contacts of index cases was found to be 13.7% which husbands of female index cases ranked first followed by wives of male index cases (36.36% versus 17.86% respectively, P < 0.0001) while sons & daughter followed later (6.84% & 4.94% respectively). When the distribution of household contacts by risky behaviour towards index cases was investigated, it was found that significant prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies positivity was detected between household contacts reporting their index cases having haematemsis &/or bleeding wound (P < 0.05), and household contacts giving IV injection to their index cases (P < 0.05) & household contacts visiting the same dentist as the index cases (P < 0.01) when compared to household contacts not exposed to the same risk factors. Conclusion: Transmission might occur during family contact and sexual behavior.