Introduction: Leprosy early diagnosis and appropriate management remains a challenge, especially in low-source settings. Among other risk factors, viral coinfections’ role in the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes are not fully explored.
Objectives: To investigate a possible outbreak and examine the co-occurrence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Indian leprosy patients followed at the Leprosarium, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
Results: Out of the 187 blood samples, 79 patients followed at the leprosy hospital of Srinagar, Kashmir, India and 108 healthy controls dwellers of the leprosy colony. In total 36 patients with leprosy were found with hepatitis C seropositivity corresponding to a 45·5% (28·2% to 49·7% CI 95%). They were 26 males and 10 females, with a mean age 62·5 (^11·8) years and 66·6 (^10·9) years respectively. Further, all women had negative HBsAg and only one male had positive HBsAg test (1·2%).
Introduction: Leprosy early diagnosis and appropriate management remains a challenge, especially in low-source settings. Among other risk factors, viral coinfections’ role in the pathogenesis and clinical outcomes are not fully explored.
Objectives: To investigate a possible outbreak and examine the co-occurrence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Indian leprosy patients followed at the Leprosarium, Srinagar, Kashmir, India.
Results: Out of the 187 blood samples, 79 patients followed at the leprosy hospital of Srinagar, Kashmir, India and 108 healthy controls dwellers of the leprosy colony. In total 36 patients with leprosy were found with hepatitis C seropositivity corresponding to a 45·5% (28·2% to 49·7% CI 95%). They were 26 males and 10 females, with a mean age 62·5 (^11·8) years and 66·6 (^10·9) years respectively. Further, all women had negative HBsAg and only one male had positive HBsAg test (1·2%).