Testing in Children

It is relatively rare for a child to become infected with Hepatitis C at the time of birth. However parents are usually very fearful of what a test may mean for their child such as schooling, relationships and their future health. This could not be more natural and overcoming these fears can be hard.

Experts recommend the best way to help is to ensure your child has a test to find out if they have Hepatitis C. They can then get the proper medical care and be monitored periodically to help them stay well.

When to test

An accurate Antibody Test for Hepatitis C is only possible after children are 12 months old because all children are given antibodies from their mum when they are born. These are called ' maternal antibodies' and give children a good start in life by helping them fight off infection. Unfortunately, they also confuse the Antibody Test that is used to test for Hepatitis C. As a result, the Antibody Test can not be used accurately until 1 years of age. The only way to test sooner is to use a PCR test which is more expensive and for this reason it is not routinely offered.

What happens next

If your child is found to have Hepatitis C, it is worth remembering that children tend to have no symptoms and live well with the virus during childhood which may bring you some immediate relief. You are likely to go through a range of emotions as parent which is natural and support is available before and after a test to help.

There is time to plan for the future and for possible treatment when both you and your son or daughter are ready.

Pregnancy

There is no need to screen pregnant women for Hepatitis C. However, testing is offered and recommended on an individual basis if a pregnant woman is identified as having risk factors for infection.