Hepatitis C

The Condition's Effects on the Child / Young Person

Effects on the individual

It is estimated that between 125 – 250 children are born in Australia each year infected with hepatitis C. Research about the effects of the virus on children is increasing but is still limited.

Testing of children is a very delicate issue for which parents may require a lot of support and information. Current recommendations are that :

• diagnostic testing should be delayed until children are 18 months old,
• children who are positive are referred to specialist pediatric gastroenterologist for continuing management..

Although there are some exceptions children generally have a mild experience of the disease which features occasional abdominal pains, lack of appetite, nausea and fatigue.

Chronic pediatric HCV infection is associated with development of autoimmune diseases, such as auto-immune hepatitis and arthritis There appears to be a moderate influence on the child’s capacity to do things normal to their age, including school work and some physical activities.

At the present time it is not possible to predict in the early stages which children will develop serious liver disease. Currently available treatments have been trialled on children with a range of success, however due to the lack of information about long term side effects and the questions surrounding whether or not to wait until the children are adults in order to treat them, current treatment is not always an option for children born with the virus.

Effects on those close to the child / young person

Parents report that their children with hepatitis C have significantly poorer health, which has an influence on family activities. Parents worry about the future and the long-term prognosis of their child’s health. Not knowing is a source of ongoing stress for parents. Due to the highly stigmatized nature of how hepatitis C is currently represented in our community some parents also worry about their child being discriminated against in the school, in social situations and in future work and education opportunities.

"In their shoes" -
stories from children / young people with the condition

None currently available.

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