title: Hepatitis C: Issues in Children.
abstract: Hepatitis C infection is a global health problem. Most infected children have not been identified. Perinatal transmission is the most common mode of acquisition. Liver disease owing to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection progresses slowly in individuals infected early in life. Serious complications rarely affect patients during childhood. Successful treatment of HCV in adults has improved and recommendations have changed. Treatment in children should be deferred until direct-acting antivirals and interferon-free regimens are available to this population. If treatment cannot be deferred, regimens including peginterferon and ribavirin can be given to children with compensated liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: Christine.Lee@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Christine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Maureen M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jonas
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Children; Direct acting antiviral; Hepatitis C; Pegylated interferon; Perinatal transmission; Ribavirin