Hepatitis C Virus in Neonates and Infants

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus prevalence has steeply risen among pregnant women in association with the opioid epidemic and the major national infectious diseases and liver society guidelines recommend universal hepatitis C virus testing in pregnancy. All infants born to mothers with hepatitis C virus infection should be evaluated. Many children spontaneously clear hepatitis C virus or remain minimally symptomatic, but some develop significant liver disease if untreated. With hepatitis C virus cure available starting at age 3, we must improve programs to identify and cure hepatitis C virus-infected women and infants with the goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission.

Keywords: Antiviral therapy; Epidemiology; Hepatitis C; Infant; Infectious disease transmission; Opioid-related disorders; Transmission; Vertical transmission.