Detection of Hepatitis C Infection by Oraquick Test Among Health Care Workers in Assiut Governorate and Treatment Outcome Among True Positive Cases

Hepatitis C is a chronic disease affecting approximately 130-170 million people worldwide. According to the world health organization, annually, more than 399,000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases and 3-4 million people are infected with hepatitis C virus . Approximately 3% of the world's population is estimated to be infected with hepatitis C virus .

Hepatitis C is found worldwide. World health organization documented that Eastern Mediterranean and European regions are the most affected regions, with the prevalence of 2.3% and 1.5% respectively. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in other world health organization regions varies from 0.5% to 1.0%. There are multiple strains ( genotypes) of the hepatitis C virus and their distribution varies by region.

Available data indicate that infection with hepatitis C virus infection varies considerably by country and region and countries believed to have the highest rate of chronic hepatitis C virus infection are Egypt (15 %), Pakistan (4.8 %), and China (3.2 %). However, the true incidence of the disease is not well known in many countries, because acute infection is generally asymptomatic.

The Egyptian Demographic Health Survey ( 2008), which was conducted on a large nationally representative sample, estimated the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies and hepatitis C virus nucleic acid, among the 15-59 years age group, to be 14.7 and 9.8% respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies and hepatitis C virus nucleic acid, among the 15-59 years age group, to be 10 and 7 % respectively according to the Egyptian Health Issues Survey ( 2015).There was an overall significant reduction of 32 %and 29% in the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus antibody and Hepatitis C virus nucleic acid-positive individuals, respectively, between the Egyptian Demographic Health Survey in 2008 and the the Egyptian Health Issues Survey in 2015.

Hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus. It is most commonly transmitted through injecting drug use through the sharing of injection equipment; the reuse or inadequate sterilization of medical equipment, especially syringes and needles in healthcare settings; and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.