RESUMO
Few studies have evaluated the epidemiology and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in children in Egypt. This study of 465 children attending Assiut University Hospital measured the rates of anti-HCV positivity by 3rd-generation ELISA test and of HCV-RNA positivity by PCR, with analysis of some relevant risk factors. The rate of HCV-RNA positivity among ELISA-positive cases (n = 121) was 72.2% overall: 100% in the subgroup with hepatitis, 70.8% in those with a history of multiple transfusions and 58.3% in those without hepatitis or multiple transfusions. History of blood transfusions, frequent injections, hospitalization or surgical procedures were significant risk factors for anti-HCV positivity by ELISA.
Assuntos
Hepatite C/epidemiologia , Hepatite C/etiologia , Hospitais Universitários , Admissão do Paciente , Adolescente , Transfusão de Sangue/estatística & dados numéricos , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Distribuição de Qui-Quadrado , Criança , Criança Hospitalizada/estatística & dados numéricos , Pré-Escolar , Egito/epidemiologia , Feminino , Hepacivirus/genética , Hepacivirus/imunologia , Hepatite C/sangue , Hepatite C/diagnóstico , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite C/sangue , Humanos , Lactente , Injeções/efeitos adversos , Masculino , Admissão do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , RNA Viral/sangue , RNA Viral/genética , Fatores de Risco , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Reação TransfusionalRESUMO
Few studies have evaluated the epidemiology and risk factors of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection in children in Egypt. This study of 465 children attending Assiut University Hospital measured the rates of anti-HCV positivity by 3rd-generation ELISA test and of HCV-RNA positivity by PCR, with analysis of some relevant risk factors. The rate of HCV-RNA positivity among ELISA-positive cases [n = 121] was 72.2% overall: 100% in the subgroup with hepatitis, 70.8% in those with a history of multiple transfusions and 58.3% in those without hepatitis or multiple transfusions. History of blood transfusions, frequent injections, hospitalization or surgical procedures were significant risk factors for anti-HCV positivity by ELISA
