In a comparative evaluation, high-risk pediatric and adult patients in Jakarta, Indonesia, were evaluated for exposure to hepatitis C virus (HCV). The study included 75 hematology pediatric and 98 renal dialysis adult patients, compared to 75 non-hematology pediatric patients and 173 adult caregivers within a case-control research design. A high prevalence (63.4%) of anti-HCV was found among the adult renal-dialysis patients and 39.0% among pediatric patients with hematological disorders, measured by second-generation EIA tests. HCV seroprevalence in this study was higher than previously reported in Indonesia. The pediatric low-risk comparison group seroprevalence, including 75 pediatric patients and 75 family members, was 4.3%. Family caregivers, serving as a comparison group for dialysis patients, had an 8.9% seroprevalence. The results show seven to nine times higher anti-HCV rates among the high-risk groups, when compared to the low-risk controls. The study highlights the high HCV seroprevalence among the high-risk patients and the comparison groups. Other studies related to HCV in Southeast Asia report a seroprevalence of 10 – 15% among special population groups, including post-transfusion hepatitis patients and poly-transfused pediatric patients. The report includes potential explanations of the difference between the relatively low prevalence of HCV among healthy blood donors (2.1%) compared to evidence of HCV exposure among low-risk groups in Indonesia. The initiation of research related to the epidemiology of HCV / HIV co-infections may enhance understanding of the spread of HCV in Indonesia.
Learning Objectives: (1) Recognize high seroprevalence among high-risk patients and caregivers; with reference to other high-risk groups, such as injecting drug users; (2) Identify culturally-based health practices as they relate to potential sources of exposure; (3) Discuss whether HCV prevalence among healthy blood donors is representative of the general population when considering evidence of HCV exposure among low-risk groups in Indonesia.
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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