Prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection in Egyptian children

Table 1 Comparison of clinical data obtained from HCV cases and control children

	HCV cases n = 18 (%)	Controls n = 112 (%)	P
Age at screening in years (mean ± SD)	4.00 ± 2.1	3.89 ± 2.0	NS
Male: female ratio	0.6:1	1.4:1	NS
BMI	16.61	16.76	NS
Residence
Urban	16 (88.9)	104 (92.9)	NS
Rural	2 (11.1)	6 (5.4)
Semi rural	0 (0)	2 (1.8)
Socioeconomic score
High class 20-26	2 (11.1)	8 (7.1)	NS
Middle class 15-20	4 (22.2)	36 (32.1)
Low class 10-15	9 (50)	41 (36.6)
Very low class less 10	3 (16.7)	27 (24.1)
ALT folds (mean ± SD)	2.3 ± 4.1	0.4 ± 0.1	0.045
Present history
Dark urine	4 (22.2)	14 (12.5)	NS
Diarrhea	5 (27.8)	12 (10.7)	0.046
Yellowish sclera	1 (5.6)	4 (3.6)	NS
Abdominal pain	3 (16.7)	2 (1.8)	0.002
Past history
Jaundice	3 (16.7)	20 (17.9)	NS
School absence because of illness	3/7 (42.9)	1/48 (2.1)	0.01
Poor general health	6 (33.3)	20 (17.9)	NS

NS: P value is nonsignificant

Table 2 Comparison of clinical data obtained from acute and chronic cases of HCV infection

	Likely acute HCV n = 4 (%)	Chronic HCV n = 14 (%)	P
Present history
Dark urine	2 (50)	2 (14.3)	0.20
Diarrhea	2 (50)	3 (21.4)	0.53
Yellowish sclera	1 (25)	0 (0)	0.22
Abdominal pain	0 (0)	3 (21.4)	1.0
Past history
Jaundice	0 (0)	3 (21.4)	1.0
School absence because of illness	1 (25)	2 (14.3)	0.43
Poor general health	1 (25)	5 (35.7)	1.0

Table 3 Comparison of risk factors for HCV positive and negative children

Risk factor	HCV cases n = 18 (%)	Controls n = 112 (%)	P	Odds ratio	95% CI
					Lower	Upper
Circumcision by non medical personnel for males and females	3/9 (33.3)	39/94 (41.5)	0.63 (NS)	0.71	0.17	2.99
Injections by non medical personnel	9/17 (52.9)	57/111 (51.4)	0.90 (NS)	1.1	0.38	2.96
History of HCV in family members	3 (16.7)	21 (19.4)	0.78 (NS)	1.2	0.32	4.55
Ear piercing for females	11/14 (78.6)	43/53 (81.1)	0.83 (NS)	1.2	0.28	5.00
Attendance to medical care	11 (61.1)	99 (88.4)	0.01 (S)	4.9	1.60	14.71
Dental care	5 (27.8)	13 (11.6)	0.07 (NS)	3.5	1.13	10.82
Blood transfusion	3 (16.7)	7 (6.3)	0.12 (NS)	3.0	0.70	12.87
Delivery at home	7 (38.9)	24 (22.0)	0.13 (NS)	2.5	0.85	7.21
Post natal care	3 (16.7)	5 (4.6)	0.09 (NS)	0.24	0.05	1.1
Non medically assisted delivery	5 (27.8)	15 (13.4)	0.16 (NS)	0.42	0.13	1.3
Traditional hair cutting	9 (50)	81 (72.3)	0.14 (NS)	ND	ND	ND
Exposed to used syringes	2 (11.1)	13 (11.6)	0.95 (NS)	0.95	0.20	4.62
Exposed to used razors	4 (22.2)	12 (10.7)	0.17 (NS)	2.381	0.67	8.41
Exposed to blood	1 (5.6)	4 (3.6)	0.43 (NS)	ND	ND	ND
Associated medical diseases	3 (16.7)	17 (15.2)	0.66 (NS)	ND	ND	ND

No urinary catheter or tattoo in cases or controls. ND: not detectable.