[Hepatitis C in Northern Norway--an 8-year material].
BACKGROUND
In 1992 a screening and medical follow-up programme of patients with hepatitis C was established in northern Norway. We report the data from the eight-year observation period.


METHODS
Patients with positive recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) confirmation tests of hepatitis C from the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark were referred from primary care.


RESULTS
At the end of 1999, 1,132 RIBA positive hepatitis C patients were registered, giving an estimated prevalence of 0.24%. 236 patients were included in the follow-up study. 75% were between 17 and 39 years of age. Drug abuse was the mode of transmission in 67%. Mean age by the time of transmission was 23 years (range 12-63 years). 103 patients were treated; 136 patients did not fulfill the criteria for treatment. At the time of inclusion, 76% had no clinical symptoms. 36% treated with monotherapy and 47% treated with combination therapy had no detectable virus six months after end of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatitis C infection is a disease among young people; intravenous drug abuse is the most frequent mode of transmission. The initial phase of the disease has few symptoms. A hepatitis C programme run by public health authorities is highly recommended.
Kristiansen
Magnhild Gangsøy
MG
Medisinsk avdeling Nordlandssykehuset 8092 Bodø. gakristi@online.no
Gutteberg
Tore
T
Berg
Leif Kyrre
LK
Sjursen
Haakon
H
Mortensen
Liisa
L
Florholmen
Jon
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction