Hepatitis C in Children: What You Need to Know About Silent Symptoms, Hidden Risks, and Lifesaving Early Action

When it comes to children's health, what you don’t see can hurt. Hepatitis C in children often flies under the radar, presenting with no symptoms until the condition becomes serious. Here's what parents should know, straight from two experts in paediatric health.What Hepatitis C Really DoesAccording to Dr Anu K Vasu, Associate Consultant in the Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplant at Kimshealth Trivandrum, “Hepatitis C infection can cause illness ranging from mild to severe.” While it may sometimes resolve on its own, she warns that it can become life-threatening, progressing to liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. “Clinical liver disease due to Hepatitis C is extremely rare in childhood unless they have risk factors like requiring repeated blood transfusions, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy,” Dr Rashmi Jeenakeri, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Apollo Hospital, Seshadripuram, adds.How Do Children Get Infected? Dr Anu explains that “perinatal transmission (from infected mothers to newborns) is the predominant mode of HCV acquisition in young children.” However, it can also be transmitted via shared needles, unscreened blood transfusions, and even sexual contact.Dr Rashmi further lists the ways children can become infected:Being born to a mother with Hepatitis C infectionReceiving Hepatitis C-infected blood transfusion or organ transplantationChildren on long-term kidney dialysis treatmentSharing personal hygiene items like toothbrushes or razorsMyths Busted: How Hepatitis C Does Not SpreadAccording to Dr Rashmi, parents can breathe a little easier knowing that Hepatitis C isn’t spread through:AirBroken skinCasual social contact like hugging or touchingBreastfeedingShe stresses, “Children with Hepatitis C infection can participate in all normal childhood activities.”Spotting the Silent Symptoms and DiagnosisMost Hepatitis C infections in children are completely asymptomatic, says Dr Anu. Some may only show subtle signs like fatigue, muscle aches, poor weight gain, or abdominal bloating. Often, diagnosis happens incidentally during unrelated medical tests when elevated liver enzymes are spotted.Dr Rashmi concurs: “Children with Hepatitis C infection usually do not have any symptoms or have mild flu-like symptoms.” However, she cautions that about 60-80 per cent may eventually show signs of chronic liver disease and, in rare cases, develop liver cancer.Diagnosis, according to both experts, is through blood tests, either by detecting HCV antibodies or using PCR testing to find the viral RNA.Why Screening Early Can Change the GameDr Anu stresses the importance of early detection: “All pregnant mothers should be screened for Hepatitis C viral infection.” If a mother is infected, her infant should be screened at six months via PCR testing or at 18 months using antibody tests.She adds, “Children diagnosed with Hepatitis C infection should be followed up by a paediatric hepatologist to assess their eligibility for treatment by the age of 3 years.”TreatmentWhile there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, there is hope in the form of treatment. Dr Rashmi shares that “effective yet costly treatments are available which can cure up to 95 per cent of children.” Dr Anu recommends that all children above 3 years who are diagnosed should begin antiviral treatment to prevent long-term complications like chronic liver disease or liver cancer.And in extreme cases? Dr Rashmi says, “Children with severe scarring of the liver need liver transplantation.”Teenagers and Risky Behaviour Dr Anu strongly advises on preventive education for adolescents. They should be taught about the dangers of needle sharing, getting tattoos or piercings in unregulated environments, and having unprotected sex. Parents, she says, “should be vigilant about the possibility of drug abuse among children and seek help from substance abuse treatment centres if necessary.”Dr Rashmi adds that adolescents should avoid “getting tattoos, alcohol abuse, engaging in unprotected sex and sharing needles.”Catch It Early, Act FastAs Dr Anu says, early screening and timely treatment are crucial, not just for the child’s health but also to prevent the spread to others. And while symptoms may be silent, the long-term effects of ignoring Hepatitis C in children are anything but.

Hepatitis C in Children: What You Need to Know About Silent Symptoms, Hidden Risks, and Lifesaving Early Action

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