Intrafamilial seropositivity of hepatitis in patients with hepatitis B and C virus in hepatitis clinic in Hamadan, Iran.

OBJECTIVE To determine intrafamilial seropositivity of HBV and HCV and to compare them in families of infected persons with HBV and HCV in Hamadan clinic of hepatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this analytic cross-sectional study, 651 family members of 200 HBV and HCV infection index cases were entered into the study and after signing an informed consent, they were referred to Blood Transfusion Center. With completion of laboratory tests, interviewers filled the questionnaires. RESULTS One hundred and eighteen (20.5%) and 107 (18.6%) family members were HBsAg and HBcAb positive respectively. 21 (3.6%) were isolated HBcAb positive. Only one person (1.3%) was HCVAb positive. The general rate of infection in family members of HBV infected people (atleast one case) (49.4%) was significantly higher than that of HCV infected people (3.3%), p < 0.001. Interspouses transmission was evaluated and prevalence of interspouses HBV and HCV infection were 32.3 and 8%, respectively. CONCLUSION Intrafamilial and interspousal seropositivity of HBV is obviously more than those of HCV. More attention should be paid to screening and risk lowering activities particularly about HBV infected people and their families.