Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections among individuals in the State of Pará

Hepatitis B and C continue to be important public health problems in Brazil. In this study, the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B and C in individuals from the State of Pará, attended at the Central Public Health Laboratory of Pará between January 2002 and December 2005, was determined. 11,282 tests to investigate HBsAg, 2,342 for anti-HBc and 5,542 for anti-HCV were performed. The prevalence of HBsAg was 3.6% and it was predominantly found in the age range of 20 to 29 years old, while anti-HBC was observed in 37.7% of the subjects. The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus was 3.6% and it was predominantly found in individuals over 50 years old. Thus, the frequencies of the markers found in Pará were higher than many other states in Brazil, hence suggesting that there is a need for public health measures of greater effectiveness for combating these illnesses in this region.As hepatites B e C continuam sendo um importante problema de saúde pública no Brasil. Neste estudo, determinou-se a prevalência de marcadores sorológicos para as hepatites B e C em indivíduos do Estado do Pará, atendidos no Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Pará, no período de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2005. Foram realizados 11.282 exames para a pesquisa do HBsAg, 2.342 para o anti-HBc e 5.542 para o anti-vírus da hepatite C. A prevalência de HBsAg foi de 3,6% e predominou na faixa etária de 20 a 29 anos, enquanto que o anti-HBc foi observado em 37,7% dos indivíduos. A prevalência do antivírus da hepatite C foi de 3,6% e predominou entre indivíduos acima de 50 anos. Assim, as freqüências dos marcadores encontradas no Pará foram mais altas que em vários outros estados do país, sugerindo a necessidade de medidas de saúde publica mais eficazes no combate a estes agravos na região