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Hepatitis C virus infection among teenagers in an endemic township in Taiwan: epidemiological and clinical follow-up studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2002

J. F. HUANG ,
S. N. LU ,
P. Y. CHUE ,
C. M. LEE ,
M. L. YU ,
W. L. CHUANG ,
J. H. WANG ,
C. Y. DAI ,
I. L. CHEN  and
C. H. SHIH
...Show all authors
J. F. HUANG
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Foo-Yin Institute of Technology Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan
S. N. LU
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
P. Y. CHUE
Affiliation:
School of Medical Technology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
C. M. LEE
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
M. L. YU
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
W. L. CHUANG
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
J. H. WANG
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
C. Y. DAI
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
I. L. CHEN
Affiliation:
Tzukuan Primary Care Centre, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
C. H. SHIH
Affiliation:
Taliaw Primary Care Centre, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
W. Y. CHANG
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Abstract

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The aim of the study was to elucidate the epidemiological features of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among teenagers in an endemic area by conducting a mass screening study. We also investigated the clinical outcome of the anti-HCV-positive subjects by conducting subsequent short-term and long-term follow-up studies. All 2837 students of two junior middle schools in Tzukuan, aged 13–16 years, were invited to be screened for anti-HCV, HBsAg, AST and ALT in October 1995. A total of 2726 (96%) students responded. Anti-HCV, HCV RNA and aminotransferase levels were evaluated among anti-HCV-positive students 1 month and 30 months later, respectively. A total of 38 (1·4%; M/F = 22/16) participants were anti-HCV-positive. The anti-HCV-positive students had higher rates of exposures to transfusion, anti-HCV-positive families and surgery. The prevalence (2·8%) of the 7 maritime villages was markedly higher than that (0·7%) of the other 8 villages (P < 0·001). Subsequent follow-up studies demonstrated that there might be 5 cases of acute or recent HCV infection, and 6 cases who had recovered from chronic HCV infection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 127 , Issue 3 , December 2001 , pp. 485 - 492
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press