Implementation of occult hepatitis screening in the Spanish cohort of HIV-infected pediatric patients

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Sep;32(9):e377-9. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e31828e9b99.

Abstract

Regular screening methods may miss the diagnosis of occult hepatitis B infection and seronegative hepatitis C virus infection in immunocompromised patients. A cross-sectional study within a Spanish cohort of HIV-infected children yielded 6 of 254 (2.4%) possible occult hepatitis B infection cases and 2 of 254 (0.8%) seronegative hepatitis C virus-infected patients. Implementation of occult hepatitis screening in the routine care of these children may be warranted.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Hepatitis B / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Prevalence
  • Spain / epidemiology