%0 Journal Article %T Epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Sudan %A Hatim MY Mudawi %J Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology %D 2008 %I Dove Medical Press %R http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S3887 %X emiology of viral hepatitis in Sudan Review (6698) Total Article Views Authors: Hatim MY Mudawi Published Date November 2008 Volume 2008:1 Pages 9 - 13 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S3887 Hatim MY Mudawi Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan Abstract: Hepatitis virus infections are the most common cause of liver disease worldwide. Sudan is classified among the countries with high hepatitis B virus seroprevalence. Exposure to the virus varied from 47%¨C78%, with a hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence ranging from 6.8% in central Sudan to 26% in southern Sudan. Studies pointed to infection in early childhood in southern Sudan while there was a trend of increasing infection rate with increasing age in northern Sudan. Hepatitis B virus was the commonest cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma and was the second commonest cause of acute liver failure in the Sudan. Studies of hepatitis C virus showed a low seroprevalence of 2.2%¨C4.8% and there was no association with schistosomiasis or with parenteral antischistosomal therapy. Hepatitis E virus was the commonest cause of acute hepatitis among pediatric, adult, and displaced populations. Recent introduction of screening of blood and blood products for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections and the introduction of hepatitis B virus vaccine as part of the extended program of immunization is expected to reduce the infection rate of these viruses in the Sudan. %K hepatitis %K Sudan %K liver disease %U https://www.dovepress.com/epidemiology-of-viral-hepatitis-in-sudan-peer-reviewed-article-CEG