A higher than expected recovery rate from hepatitis C infection amongst adolescents: a community study in a hepatitis C-endemic township in Taiwan

Abstract This study investigated the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), evaluated clinical manifestations of hepatitis C, and explored the risk factors amongst adolescents in an HCV-hyperendemic area in Taiwan. In December 1999, 713 students aged 13–16 years from Taishi township, in central Taiwan, were enrolled in a screening program for anti-HCV and alanine transaminase (ALT) status. Fourteen participants (M/F = 6/8) were positive for anti-HCV. Eight of the 14 later proved to be negative for HCV RNA, and they demonstrated relatively low sample rate/cut-off rate (S/CO) ratios (1.05–11.83) for anti-HCV tests. All HCV RNA negative cases had normal serum ALT levels. The other six (43%) seropositive students demonstrated HCV viraemia and greater S/CO ratios (25.66–77.49). Two of these six participants had elevated serum ALT levels. Compared to anti-HCV-negative subjects, anti-HCV-positive students exhibited significantly greater rates of exposure to one or more of the following: blood transfusion, tattooing, and earlobe piercing. This study group has a greater prevalence (2%) of anti-HCV than the general Taiwanese population at the same age. The study also reveals a lower rate (43%) of chronicity of HCV infection than that reported in the literature.