[Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) as a pediatric problem]. / Zakazenie wirusem C zapalenia watroby (HCV) jako problem pediatryczny.

Hepatitis C is a major health problem also in children. General screening is not advisable. Screening should be limited to the risk groups. Nowadays there are not any large studies on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children. Available studies suggest that children have response rates to interferon monotherapy similar to adults.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infections in children.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological analysis of hepatitis C virus infections in children diagnosed and treated in the Hepatology Outpatient Clinic in Bytom between 1996 and 1999. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 62 children with detected serum presence of anti-HCV antibodies (ELISA method) and/or HCV-RNA (RT-PCR method). Risk factors for the infection were thoroughly analysed on the base of questionnaires. RESULTS: It was established that in 55 (88.7%) children high probability of infection existed in connection with past hospitalization and applied diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as: transfusion of blood and its preparations (24.19%), surgical procedures (22.58%), hospital treatment without invasive procedures and blood transfusions (19.35%). Familial exposure was a risk factor in 4.84% of cases, while in 6.45% of cases there were no burdens in the history. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In the evaluated group of children HCV infection was iatrogenic in character in majority of cases. 2. Hospitalization, even without invasive procedures, may be an important risk factor for HCV infection. 3. Familial exposure seems to be of secondary importance in transmission of HCV infection.

[Cerebellitis in the course of varicella in a child: case report]. / Zapalenie mózdzku w przebiegu ospy wietrznej u dziecka--opis przypadku.

A case of cerebellitis as a complication of varicella in a 5-year old child was described. Special attention was paid to severe course of the disease and therapeutic problems. Actually available possibilities of active and passive prophylaxis of varicella-zoster virus infections were also discussed.