[Clinical aspects and epidemiology of hepatitis C in immunosuppressed children with mostly oncologic diseases]. / Zur Klinik und Epidemiologie der Hepatitis C bei immunsupprimierten Kindern mit vorwiegend onkologischen Erkrankungen.

Between July and October 1996 hepatitis C virus infection was diagnosed in 21 children who underwent immunosuppressive therapy mainly for malignant diseases. We report on the clinical signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures and the clinical course of the disease in these patients. Epidemiological, diagnostic and clinical aspects of the outbreak are discussed. Analysis of all available data led to the conclusion that these infections were of nosocomial origin. This requires consequences in the hygienic regimen. In addition to the routinely used antibody-test the HCV-PCR should be the diagnostic method of first choice concerning the HCV-diagnostics in immunocompromised patients.