A Cross-Sectional Study of the Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

Liver pain is increased by hepatotropic viruses, such as the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). This illness can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. This study aims to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C in the Southern Jordanian cities (Karak and Tafilah) as well as the correlations between alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), age and gender in hepatitis C patients. Southern Jordanian cities of Karak and Tafilah hosted this cross-sectional study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the automated chemical analyzer Cobas were used in this study. ELISA was conducted in two steps. HCV RNA genotype 1 was measured via PCR testing and the study included 100 HCV patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls. 2500 persons over the age of 18 participated in this study. Among the Jordanian participants in the study, HCV was the most common (1.7%). The findings demonstrate how widespread HCV infection was throughout the sample. The majority of affected persons are male and those who fall between the ages of 26 and 50 are most prone to get the ailment. The condition is associated with liver tests that measure ALT and AST. It has been demonstrated that in HCV patients, ALT and total protein levels increased while albumin levels decreased. Gender is negatively correlated with direct bilirubin, total protein and AST. There was a statistically significant difference between marital status and total bilirubin (p = 0.007). The findings indicated that there was a positive association with direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), AST and ALT and a negative correlation with albumin. ALP, ALT, ALB and AST showed positive relationships. The current study indicates that 1.7% of people in Jordan's Tafilah and Karak regions have HCV