Hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian children: single centre experience

Abstract

The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired in childhood is uncertain because of the diversity of the epidemiological and clinical features of infection and disease. The aim of this study was to determine the outcome of HCV infection in 105 Egyptian children who tested positive for HCV antibody (anti-HCV). The data of 105 anti-HCV-positive children presenting to the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University Children's Hospital, between 1995 and 2002, were retrospectively analysed for risk factors. Seventy-four children with available polymerase chain reaction results were further analysed clinically, serologically and histologically. The age range was 1.3-22 years, with a mean of 11.2 +/- 4.9 years. History of blood transfusion was found in 81 children (77%). HCV RNA was detected in 58.1% of 74 children. Persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were present in 40 patients (54.1%). Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg and/or anti-HBc) were detected in 18 patients (24.3%). Twenty-six of the 43 HCV RNA-positive children underwent a diagnostic liver biopsy that showed chronic hepatitis in 19 patients (73.1%), cirrhosis in one case only (3.8%), and normal biopsy findings in seven children (26.9%). Blood transfusion remains a major risk of HCV transmission among Egyptian children. HCV infection is not always benign in the childhood period. ALT levels remain elevated in half of the children and histological abnormalities are detected in three quarters of HCV RNA-positive cases.

Risky exposures and national estimate of HCV seroprevalence among school children in urban Egypt

“…This association may be due to intervention of multiple risk factors as children with chronic disease are more vulnerable to frequent hospitalization which increases possibility of contact with HCV infected persons, also those children are more exposed to injection and invasive procedures. This association was not reported in the previous studies was done in Egypt [3,7,12,15]. However, Barakat et al [3] excluded children with a history of chronic disease.…”

Prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian children

“…A recent study of intrafamilial transmission showed that the incidence of offsprings to acquire HCV from anti-HCV-positive parents is slightly higher (incidence rate of 8.7/1000 per year) in the positive mother than in the anti-HCV positive father (6.6/1000) [12] . According to a study by El-Raziky et al [13] HCV infection is not always benign in the Egyptian children as ALT levels are elevated in half of the subjects and www.wjgnet.com histological abnormalities are detectable in three quarters of HCV-RNA positive cases. It is not clear whether identification of HCV early in childhood can alter the course of the disease due to the limitations of current antiviral therapies.…”

Assessment of hepatic fibrosis in pediatric cases with hepatitis C virus in Egypt

“…The outcome of HCV infection acquired in childhood is uncertain as a result of the variation of clinical course of infection and disease in children [11] . HCV infection is not always benign in the childhood period, a recent study in Egypt showed that, ALT levels were elevated in half of the subjects and histological abnormalities were detected in three quarters of HCV-RNA positive cases [12] . Because of the major long-term complications of chronic HCV, and www.wjgnet.com the development of cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease, the degree of fibrosis on liver biopsy would seem to be an appropriate surrogate marker [13] .…”