Sero-prevalence of immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and syphilis among blood donors at ElObeid Teaching Hospital, West Sudan

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the sero-prevalence of transfusion transmitted infections (TTIs), namely immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and syphilis among blood donors. Setting: The study was carried in the blood bank at ElObeid Teaching Hospital. Material and methods: The study included 260 blood donor. Informed consent was obtained from each. Personal and socio-demographic data, information about risk factors such as blood transfusion, sexual partners, intravenous drug usage, tattooing and past history of jaundice all were included in a well designed questionnaire. Screening of blood samples for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Treponema pallidum antibodies were done using immunochromatographic (ICT) strips. Result: The study included 260 blood donor. All were males. The screening result for antibodies against HIV and Treponema pallidum was positive in 2 (0.8%) and 40 (15%) donors respectively. HBsAg was detected in 26 (10%) donors. Screening result for antibodies against hepatitis C virus was negative in all samples. Conclusion:This study showed that the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B and syphilis was high in our study population. This mandates very strict criteria for selection of blood donors and also methods of laboratory assays for detection of infectious agents must be improved. On the other hand indications for blood transfusion should be restricted. . Keywords: Blood donors, Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Syphilis. Sudan Journal of Medical Science Vol. 3 (4) 2008: pp. 333-33

Aetiology, complications, and preventive measures of liver cirrhosis; Elobeid Hospital; West Sudan

Objectives: to determine the common causes of liver cirrhosis, identify the common complications, and to find the possible preventive measures of the disease at Elobeid Hospital; West Sudan. Patients and method: This is a retrospective hospital based study. It was carried out in Elobeid Teaching Hospital. The medical and socio-demographic data of 61 patients who were admitted to the medical wards in the period from January 2006 to June 2007 with liver cirrhosis were retrieved and reviewed. Results: Out of the 61 patients 38(62%) were males. The age of the patients ranged from 17 to 80 years, with mean (± SD) of 49 ± 12.9 years. Alcohol consumption was found to be the commonest cause of liver cirrhosis, followed by hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis C infection determined as a cause of liver cirrhosis in only one patient. Common complications included ascites (92%), hepatic encephalopathy (19%), portal hypertension (8%), hepatocellular carcinoma (5%), and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (3%). In the majority of patients, management was based on diuretics (furosemide and spironolactone) and dietary sodium restriction. Few patients received albumin infusion before therapeutic ascitic fluid aspiration. Silymarin in combination with multivitamins was commonly used in management of our patients. Conclusion: Ethanol consumption and HBV infection were the commonest causes of liver cirrhosis in our patients. Religious and Health education to abandon ethanol intake and prohibit traditional practices that could predispose individuals to hepatitis B infection should be emphasized. Universal immunization with hepatitis B vaccine should be commenced to reduce the incidence of HBVrelated chronic liver diseases. Keywords: alcohol, hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, hepatocellular carcinoma.Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 25-2

Rheumatic Heart Disease: a major health problem in El Obeid Hospital, Western Sudan

No Abstract. Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2007: pp. 189-19

Hepatitis C Virus Epidemiology in Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES:To characterize hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemiology and assess country-specific population-level HCV prevalence in four countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. METHODS:Reports of HCV prevalence were systematically reviewed as per PRISMA guidelines. Pooled HCV prevalence estimates in different risk populations were conducted when the number of measures per risk category was at least five. RESULTS:We identified 101 prevalence estimates. Pooled HCV antibody prevalence in the general population in Somalia, Sudan and Yemen was 0.9% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.3%-1.9%), 1.0% (95%CI: 0.3%-1.9%) and 1.9% (95%CI: 1.4%-2.6%), respectively. The only general population study from Djibouti reported a prevalence of 0.3% (CI: 0.2%-0.4%) in blood donors. In high-risk populations (e.g., haemodialysis and haemophilia patients), pooled HCV prevalence was 17.3% (95%CI: 8.6%-28.2%) in Sudan. In Yemen, three studies of haemodialysis patients reported HCV prevalence between 40.0%-62.7%. In intermediate-risk populations (e.g.. healthcare workers, in patients and men who have sex with men), pooled HCV prevalence was 1.7% (95%CI: 0.0%-4.9%) in Somalia and 0.6% (95%CI: 0.4%-0.8%) in Sudan. CONCLUSION:National HCV prevalence in Yemen appears to be higher than in Djibouti, Somalia, and Sudan as well as most other MENA countries; but otherwise prevalence levels in this subregion are comparable to global levels. The high HCV prevalence in patients who have undergone clinical care appears to reflect ongoing transmission in clinical settings. HCV prevalence in people who inject drugs remains unknown