Viral Hepatitis in Iranian Armed Forces: Prevalence of HBV and HCV in the Wounded-In-Action (WIA)

authors:

avatar Seyed Moayed Alavian ORCID 1 , * , avatar Morteza Rajai 2 , avatar Mahmood Saeedi Arab 2 , avatar Siavash Gashtasebifar 2 , avatar Valiollah Emadi 2 , avatar Parviz Nejatbakhsh 2 , avatar Reza Yousefi Arfaee 2 , avatar Taher Doroudi 2

Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Military Medicine Research Center, alavian@thc.ir, Tehran, IR.Iran
Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Military Medicine Research Center, Tehran, IR.Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.5, issue 4; 129-131
article type: Research Article

how to cite: Alavian S, Rajai M, Arab M, Gashtasebifar S, Emadi V, et al. Viral Hepatitis in Iranian Armed Forces: Prevalence of HBV and HCV in the Wounded-In-Action (WIA). Hepat Mon. 2005;5(4): 129-131. 

Abstract

Objective: Viral hepatitis remains a health threat to military forces. Most recently there has been concern about hepatitis C virus transmission during military service. Hepatitis B and C are the main causes of mortality and morbidity in military personnel.

Methods: In this study, all WIAs of two corps of Revolutionary Guards of IR. Iran were checked for hepatitis B and C and liver function tests (LFT). A questionnaire was filled out for all WIAs, in which risk factors were asked.

Results: In this study, 563 WIAs were enrolled. Mean age was 38.9±3.9. Mean rate of disability was 25.5%. HBsAg positive prevalence was 4.8% and anti-HCV was 0.7%. In anti-HCV positive group, 50% had elevated enzymes and in HBsAg positive WIAs, 30.4% had elevated enzymes. All of HCV positive WIAs had surgery as a risk factor (100%).

Conclusions: Based on the prevalence of anti-HCV positive, which shows a 5.5 times increase in prevalence of HCV in our study group, we recommend HCV infection screening in WIAs.

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