What Precautions Should Be Used for a Child Whose Parent is Hepatitis C Positive?

Discussion Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded RNA Flavivus that was first identified in 1989 and universal screening in the blood supply was begun in 1992 in the United States. Overall incidence of acute HCV in children under age 19 is 0.1 per 100,000. In adults, the transmission is mainly from contaminated blood and body fluids, primarily intravenous drug use. It is the most common reason for liver transplantation in adults. Of those that acquire the acute infection, about 70% go on to become chronically infected. Adults have a slow progression of their disease with 20% having cirrhosis within 20 years. Being male, older, increased duration of infection, co-infections (particularly HIV and Hepatitis B), immunosuppression, hepatotoxic drug and alcohol use all increase the risk of cirrhosis. There is a 3-4% chance of hepatocellular carcinoma developing in chronic HCV patients with cirrhosis. In children the transmission is mainly vertical. Among family members, transmission is uncommon but inapparent or direct percutaneous or mucosal exposure to blood could occur. Of infants born to HCV-positive mothers, about 5-10% will acquire HCV. Of those that are acutely infected, only about 50-60% become chronically infected, and 25-75% of those will spontaneously resolve by 2-3 years of age. Unfortunately school age children and teenagers who acquire the infection have a natural history that is like adults. Most children who were infected at birth have no symptoms and may hav...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news