Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C among Tuberculosis Patients at Local Community of Sindh, Pakistan

Objective: To assess the prevalence rate of Hepatitis B and C among those patients who had tuberculosis in local community of Sindh, Pakistan. Study Design:Survey-based study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, Liaquat University of Medical & health Sciences Jamshoro from 1stJanuary 2020 to 31stDecember 2020. Methodology: Five hundred and eighty nine confirmed cases of tuberculosis patients were enrolled. The patients were further analyzed to assess either HBV, HCV or both are present or absent. Results: Three hundred and forty one (57.8%) were males and 248 (42.1%) were females. The majority of participants were in the age group of 45-54 years 147 (24.9%).The residence detail showed that 167 (28.3%) belonged to urban areas. Further 143 (24.2%) had sickness history of 2-6 months, 239 (40.5%) had history of 6-12 months, The prevalence of hepatitis B and C among tuberculosis patients showed, 17.8% (n=105) with Hepatitis B, 26.3% (n=155) were diagnosed with hepatitis C, 15.7% (n=93) had Both Hepatitis B and C, however 236 (40.0%) had no history with hepatitis. Hepatitis C was most frequently found age of above 54 years, 55 (9.3%). Conclusion:The control of tuberculosis has remained one of the greatest goals globally till date, the higher risk of liver complications, along with the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Although the complications of Tuberculosis patients remain unsolved yet the possible efforts can be made to identify the earlier problems for the clinical prospective and a complete follow up of the records can optimize the management of Tuberculosis in co-existing conditions of hepatitis B and C. Key Words: Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, Liver diseases