Hepatits C virus (HCV) is blood-borne and spreads as readily as hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and syphilis by parenteral or intimate routes, however, over half of HCV infections do not have any suspicious source of infection or risk factor.
The
role
of sexual behavior in HCV transmission may be indefinitely implicated.
To evaluate the risk factor of HCV transmission. An epidemiologis study was conducted in 87 anti-HCV-positive subjects (M:65, F:22) enrolled in Taegu Catholic Hospital from January 1991 to June 1995. The serologic tests for HBV markers (HBsAg,
anti-HBs)
and syphilis were done in 81 of the 87 subjects. The seroprevalence, related with HCV infection. Was compared with 1831 of normal controls. The gender ratio of male to female was 3;1 in the anti-HCV-positive subjects, who were relatively evenly
distributed by age group. The presumed source of infection was transfusion in 9(10.3%), acupuncture/or surgery in 17(19.5%), health care working in 2(2.3%). Parenteral drug use in 2(2.3%) and hemodialysis in 3(3.45). Six(6.9%0 had a prior history
of
venereal disease. Forty-four (55.2%) had no suspicious souce of infection. The Seropositivity for HBsAg was 7(8.6%) and anti-HBs in 20(24.9%). The seroprevalences of HBV and syphilis compared with ones of normal controls were in 3% vs
24.6%(p>0.05)
and
3.7% vs 2.9%(p>0.05) respectively. Eight (9.4%) were associated with sexual exposure, including 2 with no history but only a positive serologic test for syphilis. These results provide little evidence of HCV sexual transmission. But suggest that
the
sexual exposure may as well be taken into account as an attributable mode of transmission.
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