[A sero-epidemiological study of HCV and HBV infection among intravenous drug abusers].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate hepatitis B and C virus infection in drug addicts in Guangzhou.


METHODS
Serum samples from drug users and normal control people were collected. Serum antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were detected by ELISA.


RESULTS
The results showed that hepatitis prevalence is significantly higher among the drug users than that in normal control group (for HCV 67.49% to 3.75%, for HBV 90.48% to 55.63%, and for the mixed infections 62.73% to 3.75%).


CONCLUSIONS
In Guangzhou, the very high infection rates of HBV and HCV were found in drug addicts. Our results emphasize intravenous drug use is the major risk factor for HBV and HCV infections.
Yang
Y
Y
Department of Epidemiology, Guangdong College of Pharmacy, Guangzhou, 510224.
Zhang
G
G
Xu
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
D000914:Antibodies, Viral