title: Low prevalence of anti-HCV antibody among Italian children.
abstract: The seroprevalence of anti-HCV antibody was studied among 2,749 children and teenagers (1,438 males and 1,311 females) living in Italy. Anti-HCV antibody testing was positive by both EIA and RIBA in ten (0.36%) subjects. The positivity rate increased with age, ranging from 0 among children less than 6 years of age to 0.8% among those aged 17-19 years chi 2 linear regression = 0.038). Anti-HCV prevalence ranged from 0.2% in northeastern regions and in Apulia to 0.6% in Sicily and Sardinia (p > 0.005), and no difference was seen between males (0.35%, C.I. 95%: 0.04-0.66) and females (0.38%, C.I. 95%: 0.04-0.66) (Fisher's exact test = 0.565). From these data it appears that in Italy HCV infection is an uncommon event during childhood.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romanò
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiaramonte
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Mattia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giammanco
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Moschen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zanetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies