title: Clinical inquiries. How should you manage children born to hepatitis C-positive women?
abstract: For starters, don't be overly concerned with the mode of delivery; it does not influence the rate of transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV), except in women who are also infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Avoid internal fetal monitoring and prolonged rupture of membranes. Advise patients that it is OK to breastfeed. Breastfeeding does not affect transmission. Check HCV RNA and serum anti-HCV on 2 occasions between 2 and 6 months of age and 18 and 24 months of age.
authors.affiliation: David Grant Medical Center, United States Air Force, Travis Air Force Base, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Lauren A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Maggio
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D000075202:Contraindications; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral