[Hepatitis C--epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment in children]. / Wirusowe zapalenie watroby typu C--problemy epidemiologii, diagnostyki i leczenia dzieci.

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiology dates of hepatitis C in children are not well known because of usually asymptomatic course of disease. Vertical transmission has became one of the most common route of hepatitis C virus infection in children. METHODS AND MAIN OBSERVATIONS: Twenty one infants of twenty HCV positive mothers were studied from 1998 to 2000 in the Clinic of Infectious Disease in Childhood of Medical University in Warsaw. Five of the infants were HCV RNA positive. All uninfected children became HCV-antybody negative by 12 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Chronic infection is common in most cases of HCV infection, but the disease progression is slower than in adults. Experience of treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children is limited, with about 40% having sustained response to the interferon therapy. Combinated therapy with interferon and ribavirin may give a better response.