Evidence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Associated Treatment in Nepal

Abstract

Hepatitis C, a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus can be acute and chronic infection. Most of the studies conducted in Nepal are focused on the prevalence of hepatitis C Virus. It detects active disease only but does not detect the infections of the past which became immune naturally. The present study hence was conducted to determine the prevalence and the epidemiological characteristics of Hepatitis C. The research was carried out in Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital/Teku Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was 2700 number of HIV infection patients. An Analysis was conducted, and included calculation of hepatitis C infection by each variable of interest, including sex, age, profession, marital status, history of jaundice by the patient, invasive procedure, and history of blood transfusion and providing medicines and liver biopsy test. The result showed that there was a low frequency of HCV in all the patients infected with HIV. In Teku Hospital, 100 among 2700 patients were infected with hepatitis C (3.703%). This suggests that preventive measures for this disease can improve the situation significantly. Presently, Teku Hospital uses antiviral drugs, vitamin complexes and common Anti-inflammatory, Anti-pyretic drugs to provide immediate relief to the patients. But in absence of interferon in the treatment, the patients don't get proper respite. For betterment of the situation, interferons like (Pegylated Interferon) and Ribavirin should be included in the list of essential drugs in Nepal, along with implementation of proper preventive measures against HCV.