Prevalence of Hepatitis B, C and HIV in Libyan Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Tripoli University Hospital’s experience

Abstract

They are few publications concerning the prevalence of the 3 blood borne viruses, Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D), who are receiving multiple daily injection of insulin, those special group of patients are in contact with health facilities, and health professionals. They are repeatedly subjected for blood tests and hospital admission every now and then. 2100 children & adolescents with T1D were screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV, there were further studied for history of hospitalization, surgical or dental intervention, blood transfusion, family and social backgrounds were looked at as well. Out of 2100 children & adolescents, 25 were found sero-positive by ELISA, of whom 17 were confirmed by PCR, 15 patients were positive for HCV, and 2 patients for HBV, and none for HIV. This study concluded that there is a very low incidence of hepatitis B virus, and this is mainly due to the fact that nearly all children were vaccinated against hepatitis B [hepatitis B vaccine started since 1988 in Libya], while the incidence of hepatitis C is less than that in the Libyan general population, and we are so pleased to report that none was positive for HIV in this cohort.