Saurabh Chhotalal Gamit, Pushpa Ramjibhai Kateshiya* and Dipali Maganbhai Gavali
Introduction
Thalassemia is blood disorder passed down through families caused in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in RBCs that carries oxygen, leading to hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia in patients with thalassemia necessitates repeated blood transfusions. Multiple transfusions are associated with complications, such as hepatitis B and C and certain sexually transmitted disease like, HIV infections, syphilis infection and iron can build up in tissues. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C in children with multi-transfused thalassemia.
Materials and Methods
This study was carried at the Department of Microbiology, Shree Meghaji Pethraj Shah Medical College and Guru Govind Govt. Hospital, Jamnagar from January 2017 to December 2018. Patients with thalassemia who received multiple blood transfusions were included in this study.
Results
Serum samples from 227 patients are, including 134(59.1%) boys and 90(40.9%) girls, were tested using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay kits for hepatitis C. Of them 38(16.7%) were reactive for hepatitis C virus antibodies.
Conclusion
Sensitive screening tests, strict guidelines for donor selection before blood transfusion in thalassemia management are needed for prevention of transfusion related infections among thalassemic patients.
