Related Experiment Videos
Post-transfusion hepatitis C seroprevalence in Tanzanian children
1Departments of Paediatrics and Child Health, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, PO Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. jkitundu@muchs.ac.tz
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalence was studied in Tanzanian children. No significant difference in HCV seropositivity was found between children who received blood transfusions and those who did not.
Area of Science:
- * Virology
- * Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- * Public Health
Background:
- * Malaria-associated anemia is common in Tanzanian children, often treated with blood transfusions.
- * Donor blood in Tanzania is not routinely screened for hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Purpose of the Study:
- * To determine the seroprevalence of HCV infection in Tanzanian children.
- * To investigate the association between blood transfusion history and HCV seropositivity in children.
Main Methods:
- * A case-control study involving 184 children aged 15–59 months in Tanzania.
- * Participants were matched for age and sex, with 92 transfused and 92 non-transfused children.
- * HCV antibodies were screened using the particle agglutination test (Serodia anti-HCV).
Main Results:
- * The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 7.1% (13/184).
- * HCV seropositivity was 5.4% in transfused children and 8.6% in non-transfused children.
- * No statistically significant difference in HCV prevalence was observed between the transfused and non-transfused groups.
Conclusions:
- * Blood transfusion history was not significantly associated with HCV infection in the studied Tanzanian children.
- * Further research is needed to identify the specific factors contributing to HCV infection in this population.
Abstract:
In Tanzania, children with malaria-associated anaemia are frequently given blood transfusions, and donor blood is not screened for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To determine the seroprevalence of HCV infection in Tanzanian children previously transfused with blood, 184 children (92 transfused, 92 not transfused) aged between 15 and 59 months matched for age and sex were screened for HCV antibodies by the particle agglutination test using Serodia anti-HCV (Fujirebio Inc., Japan). The overall prevalence of HCV infection was 7.1% (13/184). HCV seropositivity was 5.4% (5/92) among children with a history of blood transfusion and 8.6% (8/92) among the non-transfused. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of HCV infection between transfused and non-transfused children. None of the factors investigated, such as gender, the nutrition and HIV serostatus of the children and the marital and education status of their mothers, was associated with HCV seropositivity. Further studies are recommended to identify the factors associated with HCV infection in Tanzanian children.