CLINICAL SYMPTOMS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTIONS INIMMUNOCOMPROMISED CHILDREN WITH MALIGNANT DISEASES

Between July and October 1996 hepatitis C virus infection was diagnose d in 21 children who underwent immunosuppressive therapy mainly for ma lignant diseases. We report on the clinical signs and symptoms, diagno stic procedures and the clinical course of the disease in these patien ts. Epidemiological, diagnostic and clinical aspects of the outbreak a re discussed. Analysis of all available data led to the conclusion tha t these infections were of nosocomial origin. This requires consequenc es in the hygienic regimen. In addition to the routinely used antibody -test the HCV-PCR should be the diagnostic method of first choice conc erning the HCV-diagnostics in immunocompromised patients.