Childhood hepatitis C virus infection: An Australian national surveillance study of incident cases over five years

Raynes-Greenow, C; Polis, S; Elliott, E; Hardikar, W; Kesson, A; Kaldor, J; Jones, CA

Childhood hepatitis C virus infection: An Australian national surveillance study of incident cases over five years

Raynes-Greenow, C Polis, S

Elliott, E Hardikar, W Kesson, A Kaldor, J Jones, CA

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2015, 51 (11), pp. 1115 - 1120
Issue Date:: 2015-11-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Raynes-Greenow, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Polis, S https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9971-9343	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Elliott, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hardikar, W	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kesson, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kaldor, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Jones, CA	en_US
dc.date.available	2015-03-13	en_US
dc.date.issued	2015-11-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2015, 51 (11), pp. 1115 - 1120	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1034-4810	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/130474
dc.description.abstract	© 2015 The Authors. Aim An estimated 1.1% of Australian adults are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Many develop chronic liver disease, and some develop liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV infection in Australian children is poorly defined. We aimed to determine the reported incidence, clinical and epidemiological features of newly diagnosed HCV infection in Australian children presenting to paediatricians. Methods We undertook prospective active national surveillance, using the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, of incident HCV cases in children aged <15 years between 1st January 2003, and 31st December 2007. Results There were 45 confirmed cases of newly diagnosed HCV infection over five years (<1 per 100 000 children aged <15 years per year). Median age at diagnosis was 2.9 years. Positive maternal HCV serostatus was the most frequent reported risk factor for HCV infection in children (40/45). Three children (all aged > 14), were exposed through their own IV drug use. No children were co-infected with HIV and only one child was co-infected with HBV. All children were asymptomatic at diagnosis, although many had minor elevations in liver transaminases. Many clinicians reported difficulties with follow-up. Conclusions Childhood HCV infection is uncommon in Australia, although our data likely underestimate the incidence. Only a small number of children aged <18 months was identified, despite known perinatal exposure. Opportunistic investigation of children at risk for HCV, improved education regarding vertical transmission for health care providers, and increased coordination of childhood HCV services are required to improve recognition and management of children with HCV.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/jpc.12904	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Pediatrics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hepacivirus	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Hepatitis C	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Incidence	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Prospective Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Age Distribution	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Child	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infant	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical	en_US
dc.title	Childhood hepatitis C virus infection: An Australian national surveillance study of incident cases over five years	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	11	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	51	en_US
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	11	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	51	en_US

Abstract:

© 2015 The Authors. Aim An estimated 1.1% of Australian adults are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Many develop chronic liver disease, and some develop liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV infection in Australian children is poorly defined. We aimed to determine the reported incidence, clinical and epidemiological features of newly diagnosed HCV infection in Australian children presenting to paediatricians. Methods We undertook prospective active national surveillance, using the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, of incident HCV cases in children aged <15 years between 1st January 2003, and 31st December 2007. Results There were 45 confirmed cases of newly diagnosed HCV infection over five years (<1 per 100 000 children aged <15 years per year). Median age at diagnosis was 2.9 years. Positive maternal HCV serostatus was the most frequent reported risk factor for HCV infection in children (40/45). Three children (all aged > 14), were exposed through their own IV drug use. No children were co-infected with HIV and only one child was co-infected with HBV. All children were asymptomatic at diagnosis, although many had minor elevations in liver transaminases. Many clinicians reported difficulties with follow-up. Conclusions Childhood HCV infection is uncommon in Australia, although our data likely underestimate the incidence. Only a small number of children aged <18 months was identified, despite known perinatal exposure. Opportunistic investigation of children at risk for HCV, improved education regarding vertical transmission for health care providers, and increased coordination of childhood HCV services are required to improve recognition and management of children with HCV.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/130474