1. Ashok Kumar 2. Rukhsar Ali Shahani 3. Saira Baloch 4. Suhail Ahmed Bajarani

1. Asstt. Prof. of Pathology, Isra University, Hyderabad 2. Assoc. Prof. of Community Medicine, 

Isra University, Hyderabad 3. Asstt. Prof. of Medical Research Center, LUMHS, Jamshoro 

4. Senior Lecturer of Community Medicine, Isra University, Hyderabad

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine frequency of Hepatitis E among patients visiting rural health centre Ranipur Sindh.  

Study Design : Retrospective study

Place and Duration of Study:  The study was conducted in patients visiting OPD at rural Health Centre Ranipur from June 2011 To February 2012. 

Materials & Methods: The study was conducted in patients visiting OPD with the complaints of gastrointestinal symptoms and jaundice.  A designed, structural Performa was filled with the consent of the patients after taking permission from hospital administration. A sample random technique was used to get blood sample and sent to the local laboratory for screening Hepatitis E through Immunochromatography method.  10 to 50 years aged male and female patients were included in the study. The data was analyzed using SPSS 16.  

Results: Total 2118 patients were screened. 98 (4.27%) cases were positive for Hepatitis E. Among them, the frequency of HEV was highest in children (10-15 years), followed by young adults (16-30) and older adults (31-50). 

In all patients, females were 58% and males were 42%.

Conclusion: In this study we found significant number of HEV cases, among whom the larger number was from children. In all age groups, females were more affected. Further research should be done for making plans and