RISING SEROPREVALENCE OF HCV A SILENT KILLER -EMERGING PROBLEM Research Article

Prevalence of active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in apparently healthy inhabitants of district Faridkot, was surveyed during December, 2009 to December , 2010. Subjects of different age and gender groups were analyzed through random blood sampling. Sum of 2119individuals out of which 321 were positive, 237 male and 84 females with age groups from 20 years to 50 and above were included in the study. All the individuals were screened for antibodies against HCV. The results showed that 15% of the people of District faridkot are actively infected with HCV . It was also concluded that the prevalence of active HCV infection was high 73% in males as compared to females (26%). The prevalence of HCV proportionality increases with the increase in age of the people. Its incidence was highest in the people of the age group of 30-50 years.