Hepatitis B and C co-infections in HIV/AIDS patients attending ARV center Abuth, Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Co-infections of HIV/AIDS with HBV and HCV are emerging as an added burden to the already chaotic protocols of managing HIV/AIDS mono- infection. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C co infections among HIV/AIDS patients in Zaria. Methods: A cross sectional study by which serum samples of all double ELISA confirmed HIV infected patients referred to the clinic were additionally screened for hepatitis B and C viruses using rapid test ELISA kits. Results: One hundred and thirty seven (17.5%) were HBsAg or anti-HCV positive, 81(10.3%) were HBsAg positive, 41(5.3%) were anti-HCV antibodies positive and 15(1.9%) were positive for the two viruses. Ages of patients ranged from 17 to 58 years with a mean of 34+-5 SD. Eighty-three were females while 51 were males. Forty-two (30.6%) patients had jaundice out of which 23(2.9%) had abnormal liver function tests. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of hepatitis B and C co infections in patients with HIV/AIDS in Zaria. Recommendations: This calls for the institution of screening measures to detect the presence of hepatitis B and C viruses in HIV infected patients to avert the consequences of their effects. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol. 4(1) 2006: 39-4