Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a lower prevalence in children and knowledge is limited regarding the natural outcome of HCV infection in children. To study the risk factors of HCV acquisition and predictors of persistence in Egyptian children. Children, 1-9 years of age, were evaluated for acquisition of HCV (anti-HCV positive regardless of viraemia) and persistence of HCV (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive) at two paediatric hepatology clinics in Cairo at enrollment and at 3 monthly intervals. Spontaneous clearance of HCV was defined as ≥ two positive anti-HCV antibody tests with negative HCV-RNA at least 6 months apart. Over a 33-month-period a total of 226 children <9 years of age were screened for HCV antibodies. Of those, 146 (65%) were anti-HCV positive of which 87 (60%) were HCV-RNA positive. The HCV acquisition was more likely to occur in older children (P = 0.003) with comorbid conditions (P < 0.01) compared to anti-HCV negative children. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the highest risk factors for HCV acquisition were surgical interventions [odds ratio (OR): 4.7] and blood transfusions (OR: 2.3). The highest risk factor for HCV persistence was dental treatment (OR: 16.9) and male gender (OR: 7.5). HCV persistence was also strongly associated with elevated baseline alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels (OR: 4.9) and fluctuating aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (OR: 8.1). Although surgical interventions and blood transfusion are significant risk factors for HCV acquisition in Egyptian children, dental treatment remains the highest risk factor for HCV chronic persistence in children.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.