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Hepatitis C virus infection in different groups of children in Wuhan area
1Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is most common in children with posttransfusion hepatitis. This study found significant HCV incidence in posttransfusion children, highlighting a critical area for intervention and prevention efforts.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Hepatology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection poses a significant public health concern, particularly in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the incidence and transmission routes of HCV in children is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among children in a specific region.
- To compare HCV infection rates across different pediatric groups, including posttransfusion cases, hepatitis patients, infantile hepatitis syndrome (IHS) infants, and healthy day-care attendees.
Main Methods:
- Serum anti-HCV antibody testing using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and HCV RNA detection via nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed.
- A cohort of 637 children was analyzed, encompassing various clinical backgrounds: 65 posttransfusion cases, 419 hepatitis patients (Hepatitis A, B, and non-A, non-B), 50 IHS infants, and 103 healthy day-care children.
- A mother-infant paired study was conducted within the IHS group to investigate vertical transmission.
Main Results:
- Posttransfusion children exhibited significantly higher rates of anti-HCV positivity (30.8%) and HCV infection incidence (43.1%) compared to other groups.
- Hepatitis C was identified as the leading cause of posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) (75.8%) and non-A, non-B posttransfusion hepatitis (NANB PTH) (83.3%).
- HCV infection was detected in 4 mother-infant pairs with IHS and in 3 healthy day-care children, indicating inapparent infections.
Conclusions:
- Posttransfusion exposure represents a major risk factor for HCV infection in children.
- HCV infection can occur inapparent forms and may be transmitted from mother to infant.
- Public health strategies should focus on screening and prevention in high-risk pediatric populations, especially those with a history of transfusions.
Abstract:
To investigate the incidence of child's HCV infection in our area, 637 children with different background, including 65 posttransfusion cases, 419 hepatitis patients (250 cases of acute hepatitis A, 156 cases of chronic hepatitis B and 13 cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis), 50 infantile hepatitis syndrome (IHS) infants and 103 healthy day-cared children were tested for serum anti-HCV antibody (EIA) and HCV RNA (nested PCR). It was found that posttransfusion children had significantly higher anti-HCV positive rate (30.8%) and HCV infection incidence (43.1%) than hepatitis patients (4.3% and 5.3%), IHS infants (6.0% and 8.0%) and day-cared children (2.9% and 2.9%). 25 of 33 cases with posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) developed hepatitis C, which was the leading cause of PTH (75.8%) and NANB PTH (25/30, 83.3%). The incidence of HCV infection in NANBH patients was 23.1% (3/13) which was apparently higher than that in day-cared children (P < 0.02) and lower than that in PTH patients (P < 0.001), but not statistically different from that in AHA and CHB patients (P > 0.05). Mother-infant paired study in IHS group showed that 4 pairs of mother-infant had HCV infection, one boy aged 8 months and his mother were anti-HCV positive, and another 3 pairs possessed HCV RNA in sera. 3 of 103 healthy day-cared children were found to have inapparent HCV infection, who were anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive.