title: [The treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in children].
abstract: A 9-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy, and a 6-year-old girl were infected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). They had no physical complaints and a virus genotype that was favourable to treatment with peginterferon-alpha and ribavirin. The younger boy and the girl had liver fibrosis and were treated for 6 months; the virus was eradicated from the boy's plasma and the fibrosis diminished, while the girl's plasma virus was again present shortly after the end of treatment. In the older boy with no fibrosis, treatment was temporarily suspended due to behaviour problems. HCV infection is a frequent cause of chronic hepatitis in children. A better understanding of its natural history, improvements in the efficacy of treatment, and more favourable outcomes seen in children compared with adults have gradually changed the consideration to treat children with chronic HCV infection over the last 10 years. The decision whether or not to treat depends primarily on the degree of liver damage, virus genotype, and the psychological condition and motivation of the patient. Screening patients at risk for chronic HCV infection and careful follow-up for liver damage in those with HCV infection have become even more important given the new insights regarding treatment.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, Emma Kinderziekenhuis, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam. b.g.koot@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: B G P
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Koot
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Weegink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents