Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Antenatal hepatitis C virus screening and management of infected women and their children: policies in Europe

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
European Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A postal survey of 31 European centres was conducted to document current practices regarding screening and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected pregnant women and their children. Antenatal HCV prevalence was low. Universal antenatal screening programmes were in place in ten centres, selective screening occurred in ten other centres, two did not specify the type of policy, and there was no screening programme in nine centres. Numbers of HCV-infected children were low. Breastfeeding was recommended for infants of infected mothers in ten centres, discouraged in ten centres, in three centres women were merely informed of the risks, and there were no guidelines in eight centres. Polymerase chain reaction was available in all centres. In 17 centres children born to HCV-infected women were seen every 3 months for at least the 1st year.

Conclusion The optimum antenatal hepatitis C virus screening approach and the appropriateness of breastfeeding recommendations are unclear and this survey highlights the lack of uniformity in current practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 15 January 1999 / Accepted: 10 March 1999

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pembrey, L., Newell, ML. & Tovo, PA. Antenatal hepatitis C virus screening and management of infected women and their children: policies in Europe. Eur J Pediatr 158, 842–846 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310051219

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310051219

Navigation