Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases in India

Diverse Indian population provides an excellent opportunity to study the prevalence and feature of hepatitis virus for understanding viral evaluation and viral pathogenesis. India is in intermediate zone of pathogenesis of hepatitis B (2-5%), and India is having around 40 million hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. A wide variation in prevalence of hepatitis B is observed from region to region and community to community. The prevalence of HBV is higher among tribal population, than nontribal. Population prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in India is 1%. Prevalence study among blood donors may reflect population prevalence. Hemodialysis increases the possibility of blood borne viral infection. Higher prevalence of HBV among tribal population is of paramount importance from public health point of view and hepatitis B vaccination. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Bhaumik P. Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases in India. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2015;5(1):34-36.