[Hepatitis C. Ways of transmission in a population of north of Tamaulipas].
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C is a public health problem at a global level, with time it could degenerate cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. I Mexico it is known to be a great incidence and the risk factors or ways of exposure play an important role in the control of this disease.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the primary ways of transmission, like the influence of age and sex in the zero positives of the hepatitis C virus in a group of 95 patients who were zero positives were admitted to the Service of Gastroenterology of the General Hospital of Zone No. 11 of the Mexican Institute of Social Security in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.


METHODS
It included all the patients who tested positive for the antibody for Hepatitis C virus who attended the service of Gastroenterology, from January 2001 to December 2003. A direct interrogation was conducted to identify the mechanism of transmission associated with the infection of the Hepatitis C virus. Each patient had lab tests conducted to search for the antibody of the Hepatitis C virus, ELISA of the third generation (Enzymatic Inmunoanalysis) was conducted as well.


RESULTS
Of the 95 patients, the principal mechanism of transmission that was found was promiscuous sex. Women were more affected with 57 cases (60%), and the age range was between 20-70 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that promiscuous sex played a more important role in the contraction of the Hepatitis C virus than blood transfusions and its derivatives.
Neri Jiménez
Ulda
U
Médico Gastroenterólogo, Departamento de Medicina Interna del Hospital General de Zona No. 11, Nuevo Laredo, Tamps, México. nerijim@hotmail.com
Boeta Guerrero
Marco Antonio
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies