HIGH SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C INFECTION AMONG RISK GROUPS IN EGYPT

High prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were recently reporte d among Egyptian blood donors. To confirm these observations and estim ate the magnitude of HCV infection in this country, we determined the prevalence of antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) in samples collected in 199 2 from seven different populations of children and adults living in Eg ypt. Anti-HCV was found in 12.1% of rural primary schoolchildren, 18.1 % of residents of a rural village, 22.1% of army recruits, 16.4% of ch ildren with hepatosplenomegaly, 54.9% of hospitalized, multitransfused children, 46.2% of adults on hemodialysis, and 47.2% of adults with c hronic liver disease or hepatoma. Age-related prevalence of anti-HCV i n a random sample of 270 inhabitants of a rural village increased prog ressively from zero in those 5-10 years of age to 41% in adults greate r than the age of 50. Although the increased prevalence of anti-HCV am ong children and adults with parenteral exposures and chronic liver di sease was expected, the prevalence of anti-HCV among persons represent ing the general population of Egypt was strikingly high. These data de monstrate the magnitude of HCV infection and its importance in chronic liver disease in Egypt. Future studies are needed to determine the ro utes of transmission of HCV in this country.