SHORT REPORT - PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRAL ANTIBODY AMONG BRAZILIAN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND STREET YOUTHS

The prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) was investigated i n 1,378 central Brazilian children, students, and street youths (homel ess adolescents without family links or adolescents working in poorly paid activities). Sera were tested with a second generation enzyme-lin ked immunosorbent assay, and positive samples were retested by a confi rmatory assay (line immunoassay). All children attending day care cent ers were anti-HCV negative. Only one (0.2%) adolescent was positive in the student group. However, higher positivity was found in street you ths; four (1.0%) living at home and three (3.0%) living in the streets had anti-HCV antibodies. Among these, the prevalence of anti-HCV incr eased significantly with age from 0% in the 9-12-year-old group to 6.9 % in the 17-20-year-old group. Risk factors including blood transfusio n, tattooing, intravenous drug use, and sexual intercourse with multip le partners were significantly associated with the presence of anti-HC V in street youths. These results indicate that apparently healthy chi ldren and adolescents attending day care centers or primary schools in central Brazil have a low exposure to HCV infection, but street youth s in the same area are at risk for infection with this virus.