Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 2(1): 37-39, 2010
ISSN: 2040-8773
© M axwell Scientific Organization, 2009
Submitted Date: December 24, 2009
Accepted Date: December 31, 2009
Published Date: January 20, 2010
Frequency Distribution of Hepatitis in Three Districts of Hazara Division
Arifa Afzal Khan, Habib Ahmad, Sajid-Ul Ghafoor, Khaist Begum, Imtiaz Ahmed K han
Department of Gen etics, Hazara University, M ansehra
Abstract: Hepatitis (inflam mation of the liver) is a serious disease of present time . According to an estimate,
Pakistan is currently home to around 10 to 12 million patients suffering from hepatitis. Present research was
undertaken to study frequency distribution of hepatitis in three districts of Hazara division viz; Mansehra,
Abbotabad and Haripur. A total of 700 individuals were surveyed . Am ong the surveyed pe oples, 19.9 % female
and 53.9 % m ale individuals were found infected with hepatitis virus. Among the hepatitis patients, 2.7, 6.4
and 21 % w ere diagnosed with hepatitis A, B and C virus, respectively. In 45.2 and 29.5 % male and female
hepatitis patients, respectively, the disease also infected their childre n. Giv ing du e con sideration to the present
findings it is important that public should be given awareness about hepatitis and preventing the disease by
adopting simple measures including regular hand wash ing, wash ing fruits and vegetables before eating them
and getting vaccine against hepatitis.
Key w ords: Control measures, frequency distribution, Hazara division , Hep atitis, human diseases, medical
science, Pakistan, prevalence rate and viral infection
INTRODUCTION
Hepatitis is defined as irritation or swelling of the
liver cells. There are many forms of hepatitis, including
viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, fatty liver hepatitis,
alcoh olic hepa titis and toxin-induced hepatitis. Most
cases of acute hep atitis are due to viral infections. There
are various types of viral hepatitis including hepatitis, A,
B, C, D , B w ith D and E. In addition to the hepa titis
viruses, other viruses can also cause hepatitis, including
cytom egalo virus, epstein-barr virus, yellow fever virus,
mum p virus and rubella virus etc. (Nad ir et al., 2000).
It is estimated that around 250 million people worldwide are affected by hepatitis C and around 400 million
are chronic carriers of hepatitis B. Approximately 1
million people die each year from complications from
HBV (Fiore and Neeman, 2004; Bialek et al., 2004). The
reliable way to diagnose hepatitis virus is to do a blood
test seeking to find antibodies. In most cases, these
antibodies become detectable 5-10 days before the onset
of symptoms and can persist for up to 6 months after
infection (Arm strong and B ell, 2002; W aisley et al.,
2005). The risk of transmission of hep atitis virus is
increased in these situations (i) Sexual contact with an
infected person (ii) Living in the same household with an
infected individual and (iii) Contact with infected blood
or seminal fluid and contaminated needles, including
tattoo/body piercing instruments (Praz et al., 2006;
Simard and M iller, 2007).
Hepatitis preva lence is near to epidemic in various
countries. Eight countries – Bolivia, Burundi, Cameroon,
Egy pt, Guinea, Mongolia, Rwanda, and Tanzania – have
a Hepatitis C prevalence of above 10%. Seven
countries/areas – Gabon, Libya, Papua New G uinea,
Suriname, Vietnam, Zaire, and the Near East have HCV
prevalence between 5 and 10% (Armstrong et al., 2002).
In Pakistan, ap proximately 10 to 12 m illion peoples are
suffering from hepatitis B and C. There has, however,
been no specific countrywide study to determine the
prevalence of hepatitis in Pakistan, and the statistics are
aggregates of separate studies focusing on specific areas.
The overall prevalence of the disease in Pakistan, as per
these studies, is around 10 to 15 percent, the Pakistan
society for the study of liver disease (PSSLD) reported
that in some areas, such as the Seraiki belt (lower Punjab
and upper Sindh), this prevalence increases to around 40
to 50 percen t (Anony mous, 2008a, b). Baig et al. (2009)
have recently identified sub genotypes of hepatitis D virus
prevailing in Pakistan. Present research was undertaken
to study frequency distribution of hepatitis in three
districts of Hazara division viz; Mansehra, Abbotabad and
Haripur. The present findings will help making better
strategies for controlling / treatment of hepatitis in the
area.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A questionnaire was developed to conduct survey on
prevalence of hepatitis in Hazara division. Data were
collected from district head quarter hospitals, public
scho ols and colleges, medical colleges, H azara
University, housewives and shopkeepers from various
mark ets of Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra. The
questionnaire consisted of ge neral questions, disease
statistics and family history of the individuals. A total of
700 surveys were conducted during the study. From
Corresponding Author: Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, Department of Genetics, Hazara University, Mansehra
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Asian J. Med. Sci., 2(1): 37-39, 2010
Mansehra, Abbottabad and Haripur districts, 170, 250 and
280 samples, respectively were recorded. Out of the 700
samples, 357 samples were from female and 343 were
from male individuals. For statistical analyses and
diagra mmatic representation of the data, computer
program “MS Excel 2007” was used.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
From the people surveyed in Mansehra, Abbottabad
and Haripur districts, 22 (12.9% ), 67 (26.8%) and 166
(59.2%) people, respectively were suffering from hepatitis
(Table 1). Am ong the surveyed pe oples, 19.9 % female
and 53.9 % m ale individuals were foun d infected w ith
hepatitis virus. Among the hepatitis infected female
person, majority (34 out of total 71 infected female)
belonged to age group 26-35 years, 10 were over 36 years
of age and 27 were between 15 and 25 years of age.
Among the hepatitis infected male person, almost equal
number of infected individuals (65 and 63) belo nged to
age groups 15-25 and 26-35 yea rs, respe ctively, while
fifty six hepatitis positive males belonged to age group 36
and abov e. Am ong all the hepatitis patients, 2.7, 6.4 and
21 % were diagnosed with hepatitis A, B and C virus,
respectively (Fig. 1).
In total 38.8 % patients were
diagnosed using spec ific laboratory test designed for
hepatitis while 61.2 percent peoples were diagnosed by
symptoms. Alm ost one qua rter (23.5 %) o f the patients
surveyed were still receiving treatment while in remaining
three quarter of the patients (76.5 %) treatment has been
completed. Thirty-six and 64 % patients received their
treatment in government hospitals and private
hospital/clinic, respectively (Fig. 2). Among the patients,
almost 60% of the patients recovered completely after
receiving treatment, 33 % were not sure if they had
com plete recovered from the disease or not and 7 % stated
that they have not recovered even after treatment has been
completed. As a prelim inary attempt to study genetics of
the disease, it was found that in 45.2 and 29.5 % male and
fema le patients, respectively, their children were also
infected by the disease (Fig. 3). Study indicated high
prevalence of hepatitis in Hazara division especially in
Haripur district. Present findings may be helpful for the
researchers to design better strategy to overcome the
increasing problem of hep atitis in Pakistan.
Fig. 1: Frequency distribution of people suffering from specific
types of hepatitis (percentage was calculated from
total number of individuals surveyed) 1= Hepatitis A,
2= Hepatitis B, 3= Hepatitis C
Fig. 2: Frequency distribution for mode of treatment. 1 =
Treatment received/receiving from a government
facility, 2 = Treatment received/receiving from a private
facility
Fig. 3: Number of hepatitis +ve individuals with hepatitis +ve
children. 1 = Male patients having hepatitis +ve
children, 2 = Female patients having hepatitis +ve
children
REFERENCES
Tab le 1: S o m e basic statistics regarding survey conducted during
present research
S.No. District
Survey conducted
Individual
hav ing h epa titis
1
M anseh ra
170
22
2
Abbottabad
250
67
3
Haripur
280
166
4
5
6
No. of male surveyed
No. of female surveyed
To tal
343
357
700
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