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Prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Hong Kong
Author(s) -
CHAN G. C. B.,
LIM W.,
YEOH E. K.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1992.tb00946.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis c , seroprevalence , population , hepatitis b , hepatitis , liver disease , chronic liver disease , outpatient clinic , disease , pediatrics , immunology , antibody , environmental health , serology , cirrhosis
A study of a cross‐section of the Hong Kong Chinese population was done to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis C. Healthy subjects were random visitors of a health exhibition, while clinical subjects were recruited from an outpatient liver disease clinic, sexually transmitted disease clinics, dialysis centres and drug rehabilitation centres. A total of 910 subjects were tested. The assay kits were from Abbott and Ortho laboratories. Of the general population, 0.5% was found to be positive for antibody to hepatitis C (anti‐HCV). Suspected chronic non‐A non‐B patients, parenteral drug abusers and haemophiliacs shared a common high (up to 70%) prevalence of anti‐HCV. Sexual partners of index patients, homosexuals and female prostitutes as well as hepatitis B carriers had 0% prevalence. It was concluded that parenteral and blood product exposures were the two main risk factors for hepatitis C.