Pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin for children with chronic hepatitis C

Table 2 Comparison of adverse reactions between those receiving peginterferon-alfa 2a and those receiving peginterferon-alfa 2b

Adverse reaction	Peginterferon-alfa 2a (n = 10)	Peginterferon-alfa 2b (n = 20)	Total
None	0	5	5
Flu-like symptoms	4	5	9
Weight loss	1	3	4
Hair loss	1	3	4
Headache	2	2	4
Aseptic meningitis	1	0	1
GI symptoms	1	4	5
Oral aphthae	1	0	1
Pruritus	1	0	1
Fat necrosis	1	1	2
Sleep disturbance	2	0	2
Lymphadenopathy	1	0	1
Absolute neutropenia	0	2	2
Anemia (HGB < 110 g/L)	2	4	6
Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100 000 cells/μL)	1	0	1
Direct hyperbilirubinemia (mg/dL)	1	0	1
Indirect hyperbilirubinemia (mg/dL)	0	1	1

GI: Gastrointestinal; HGB: Hemoglobin level.