Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Transfusion-transmitted infections continue to be a threat to the safety of the blood supply, in particular the risk is high for parent rally transmitted viral hepatitis in pediatric malignancy.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim is to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis in children with malignancy, identify some variables that could affect the prevalence of hepatitis in these patients, and to have an idea about the effect of vaccination in controlling hepatitis infection.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A cross sectional study was done over ten months period between December 1st, 2013 to September 30th, 2014 at the Pediatric Oncology Unit in Al- Emamain Al -Kadimain Medical City, A total of (54) children between the age of [1-15] years with malignancy who were diagnosed and treated at the pediatric oncology department before 6 months and more were studied. Information regarding age, gender ,residence, hepatitis vaccine received ,number of blood transfusion ,any surgical intervention for solid tumors and lymphoma was done, history of hepatitis screen at diagnosis were taken from hospital record and pediatric oncology consultation clinic files ,re- evaluation of hepatitis screen were done through with screen for HBs Ag , Anti HCV. Among those children with malignancy, testing for HBV and HCV were done through blood samples taken from the patients and sent to lab. of the hospital.
RESULTS:
From (54) patients with malignancy, 46 patients were with hematological malignancy(85%) and 8 cases(15%) with solid malignancy, from them 8 (14.8%) cases were HBV positive and 4 (7.4%) cases with HCV positive. Most of the patient were from Baghdad 37 cases (68.5%), male to female ration(1.7:1) and also most dominant age group was from (4-9 year).The number of blood transfusion had significant positive impact on prevalence of hepatitis virus infection , and also the vaccine status had significant positive influence.
CONCLUSION: There is a low frequency of HBV &HCV infection in patients with malignancy treated in Al-Emamain Al- Kadimain Medical City with lower incidence of HCV infections than HBV.
Blood transfusions (more than 3 times) is significantly increasing the incidence of HBV infection and HBV vaccine is significantly reducing the incidence of HBV infection.