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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Risk factors for hepatitis C virus acquisition and predictors of persistence among Egyptian children
Liver International, Volume 32, No. 3, Year 2012
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Description
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a lower prevalence in children and knowledge is limited regarding the natural outcome of HCV infection in children. Aim: To study the risk factors of HCV acquisition and predictors of persistence in Egyptian children. Methods: Children, 1-9 years of age, were evaluated for acquisition of HCV (anti-HCV positive regardless of viraemia) and persistence of HCV (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive) at two paediatric hepatology clinics in Cairo at enrolment and at 3 monthly intervals. Spontaneous clearance of HCV was defined as ≥ two positive anti-HCV antibody tests with negative HCV-RNA at least 6 months apart. Results: Over a 33-month-period a total of 226 children <9 years of age were screened for HCV antibodies. Of those, 146 (65%) were anti-HCV positive of which 87 (60%) were HCV-RNA positive. The HCV acquisition was more likely to occur in older children (P = 0.003) with comorbid conditions (P < 0.01) compared to anti-HCV negative children. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the highest risk factors for HCV acquisition were surgical interventions [odds ratio (OR): 4.7] and blood transfusions (OR: 2.3). The highest risk factor for HCV persistence was dental treatment (OR: 16.9) and male gender (OR: 7.5). HCV persistence was also strongly associated with elevated baseline alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels (OR: 4.9) and fluctuating aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels (OR: 8.1). Conclusion: Although surgical interventions and blood transfusion are significant risk factors for HCV acquisition in Egyptian children, dental treatment remains the highest risk factor for HCV chronic persistence in children. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Authors & Co-Authors
Esmat, Gamal
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
Hashem, Mohamed S.
United States, Baltimore
University of Maryland School of Medicine
El Raziky, Mona Said
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
Elakel, Wafaa Ahmed
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
El-Naghi, Suzan
Egypt, Cairo
National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute
El-Koofy, Nehal Mohammad
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
El-Sayed, Rokaya Mohamed
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
Ahmed, Rasha
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
Atta-Allah, Mohamed
Egypt, Cairo
National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute
Hamid, Mohamed Abdel
Egypt, Cairo
National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute
Egypt, Minya
Minia University
El-Kamary, Samer S.
United States, Baltimore
University of Maryland School of Medicine
El Karaksy, H. M.
Egypt, Cairo
Faculty of Medicine
Statistics
Citations: 31
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02643.x
ISSN:
14783223
e-ISSN:
14783231
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Case-Control Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Participants Gender
Male