The Prevalence of Anti - HCV Positivity in Healthy Korean Children

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 2(2); 1996 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 1996;2(2): 160-165.

원저 : 한국 어린이에서의 anti - HCV 양성율 ( Original Articles : The Prevalence of Anti - HCV Positivity in Healthy Korean Children )

The Prevalence of Anti - HCV Positivity in Healthy Korean Children

Jae Myung Lee , Jong Min Lee , Heui Seung Yoo , Ung Ki Jang , Dong Jun Kim , Yong Bum Kim , Hak Yang Kim , Choong Kee Park , Jae Young Yoo

ABSTRACT

Background/Aims
'. The transmission routes of HCV infection were not determined in the half of the HCV infected patients. So intrafamilial personal contact, sexual contact, vertical transmission and some vectors are supposed as a route of HCV infection. We investigated the prevalence of anti-HCV positivity in healthy Korean children and compared with the data from the healthy adults whether the vertical transmission is feasible. Methods .' Serum samples from 2,080 children in 8 elementary schools were tested for serum aminotransferases, hepatitis B viral markers by radioimmu- noassay, and anti-HCV by the third generation EIA. Sera from anti-HCV positive children were tested for HCV-RNA by RT-PCR. Six months later, same tests were repeated. Results :' Anti-HCV was positive in 17 children among 2,080(0.82%). Among 17 anti-HCV positive children, HCV-RNA was detected only in one case and the HCV genotype was type II by Okamotos classification. Anti- HCV was tested again in 7 of 17 anti-HCV positive children after 6 months later and all of these children were anti-HCV positive and additional 3 of 19 family members were anti-HCV positive. But HCV-RAN was not detected in alL Coaclusion .' Anti-HCV positive rate in children was 0.81%.

KeyWords: Children , Anti - HCV