TITLE:
Infection with Hepatitis B and C Virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Public Health Problem
AUTHORS:
Ben Ilunga Bulanda, Berry Ikolango Bongenya, Jean-Yves Debels Kabasele, Médard Omakoy Okonda, Divine Chuga, Christian Tshisumbu, Elvis Tshunza Kateba, Erick Ntambwe Kamangu
KEYWORDS:
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Kinshasa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.5 No.8,
August
14,
2018
ABSTRACT: Background: Viral hepatitis represents a major public health burden with more than 375 million people with chronic hepatitis B infection and 130 to 150 million with hepatitis C for 2016. Sub-Saharan Africa has the heaviest burden of the epidemic. Objective: The objective of this review is to present the characteristics of hepatitis B and C infections (HBV and HCV), present the synthesis and estimate its magnitude in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the last 20 years. Methods: This work consisted in cataloging the various published articles and abstracts presented in scientific conferences having as subject of interest the infection with viral hepatitis B and C in the DRC. The search for these published works on different infections was done on the internet from different search engines. The research was limited to published works and abstracts presented over the last 20 years. Pediatric studies, studies in patients with renal or hepatic infections or without original data were not included in this review. Results: According to the various works published and presented in conference since 1997, the populations targeted for the investigations on the hepatitis B and C infections are the poly-transfused, the blood donors and the People Living with HIV. Seven (7) works have been documented for the DRC meeting the various selection criteria. In 1999, the carriage of HBV infection was 9.2% in Kinshasa. In 2000, the carriage of HBV was 5.9% while that of HCV was 4.8% in Kinshasa. In 2001, the portage of HCV was 5.0% in Kinshasa. In 2004, the prevalence of HBs antigen was 5.4% in Kisangani. In 2008, the prevalence of HBV and HCV was 8% and 4% respectively in Bukavu. In 2008, seroprevalences of HBV and HCV were respectively 4.2% and 3.8% in Bukavu. In 2012 and 2013, prevalence of HCV was 5.8% and 5.2% respectively in Kinshasa. Conclusions: Although often asymptomatic, viral hepatitis B and C are a public health problem for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The prevalence of these viral infections is far superior to that of HIV infection in Blood Transfusion Centers across the country.