title: Hepatitis C virus infection among teenagers in an endemic township in Taiwan: epidemiological and clinical follow-up studies.
abstract: The aim of the study was to elucidate the epidemiological features of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among teenagers in an endemic area by conducting a mass screening study. We also investigated the clinical outcome of the anti-HCV-positive subjects by conducting subsequent short-term and long-term follow-up studies. All 2837 students of two junior middle schools in Tzukuan, aged 13-16 years, were invited to be screened for anti-HCV, HBsAg, AST and ALT in October 1995. A total of 2726 (96%) students responded. Anti-HCV, HCV RNA and aminotransferase levels were evaluated among anti-HCV-positive students 1 month and 30 months later, respectively. A total of 38 (1.4%; M/F = 22/16) participants were anti-HCV-positive. The anti-HCV-positive students had higher rates of exposures to transfusion, anti-HCV-positive families and surgery. The prevalence (2.8%) of the 7 maritime villages was markedly higher than that (0.7%) of the other 8 villages (P < 0.001). Subsequent follow-up studies demonstrated that there might be 5 cases of acute or recent HCV infection, and 6 cases who had recovered from chronic HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Foo-Yin Institute of Technology Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chue
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens