title: Hepatitis C virus infection in pediatric patients.
abstract: In contrast to our understanding of hepatitis C virus infection in adults, relatively little is known about the evolution and treatment of HCV infection in pediatric patients. Children at risk for HCV infection include recipients of multiple blood-product transfusions, organ transplantation and infants born to HCV-infected mothers. A proportion of HCV-infected pediatric patients do not have an identifiable risk factor. HCV infection is commonly detected in children previously presumed to have non-A, non-B hepatitis and cryptogenic liver disease. HCV infection usually leads to mild chronic liver disease in children but is also associated with chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis. Interferon therapy is effective in a proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics and Section of Hepatobiliary Diseases, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0296, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: González-Peralta
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha