Risk factors for HCV infection among children and youth in Canada are shown in Box 1. However, one Canadian modelling study which took vulnerable populations into account suggested a seroprevalence of 0.96% (95% CI 0.61 to 1.34). The estimate for Canada was 0.6% (95% CI 0.4 to 0.7). Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infectionĪ global HCV infection prevalence estimate of 1% (95% CI 0.8 to 1.1) was recently derived by comprehensive literature review of country-level data, with higher rates (≥2.9%) reported for Egypt, Gabon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia and Uzbekistan. This statement provides guidance on the management of infants born to mothers with chronic HCV infection and of older children and youth who are at risk of acquiring HCV infection. While this recommendation has not yet been formally adopted by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada (SOGC), it is anticipated that HCV testing in pregnancy will become routine in Canada in the near future. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine now recommend that women be tested for HCV infection during each pregnancy. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the U.S. The high efficacy of this treatment has increased the incentive to identify infected children and youth. The introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) in paediatric practice represents a paradigm shift in the management of chronic HCV infection in children. Keywords: Children Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) Hepatitis C virus Vertical transmission Paediatricians and family physicians have an important role in educating youth regarding HCV infection risks and prevention, and in advocating to government and public health authorities for comprehensive harm reduction interventions targeting at-risk youth, accessible treatments, and routine prenatal screening for HCV. Treating chronic HCV infection with direct-acting antivirals has been shown to achieve sustained virologic suppression in 97% to 100% of children as young as 3 years old. It is now recommended that all infants, children, and youth with one or more risk factors be screened for HCV infection. Most paediatric HCV infections are a consequence of vertical transmission or, among youth and young adults, the result of engaging in high-risk behaviours, such as injection drug use and unprotected sexual activity. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 0.5% to 1.0% of the Canadian population. Paediatr Child Health 2021(7): 440 (Abstract) Abstract Ari Bitnun Canadian Paediatric Society, Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee
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