A higher than expected recovery rate from hepatitis C infection amongst adolescents: a community study in a hepatitis C-endemic township in Taiwan.
This study investigated the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), evaluated clinical manifestations of hepatitis C, and explored the risk factors amongst adolescents in an HCV-hyperendemic area in Taiwan. In December 1999, 713 students aged 13-16 years from Taishi township, in central Taiwan, were enrolled in a screening program for anti-HCV and alanine transaminase (ALT) status. Fourteen participants (M/F = 6/8) were positive for anti-HCV. Eight of the 14 later proved to be negative for HCV RNA, and they demonstrated relatively low sample rate/cut-off rate (S/CO) ratios (1.05-11.83) for anti-HCV tests. All HCV RNA negative cases had normal serum ALT levels. The other six (43%) seropositive students demonstrated HCV viraemia and greater S/CO ratios (25.66-77.49). Two of these six participants had elevated serum ALT levels. Compared to anti-HCV-negative subjects, anti-HCV-positive students exhibited significantly greater rates of exposure to one or more of the following: blood transfusion, tattooing, and earlobe piercing. This study group has a greater prevalence (2%) of anti-HCV than the general Taiwanese population at the same age. The study also reveals a lower rate (43%) of chronicity of HCV infection than that reported in the literature.
Lee
Pei-Lun
PL
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-pei Road, Niaosung 833 Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wang
Jing-Houng
JH
Tung
Hung-Da
HD
Lee
Chuan-Mo
CM
Lu
Sheng-Nan
SN
D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000410:Alanine Transaminase