Hepatitis C virus genotype distribution among adults and children in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Abstract

One of the fundamental factors determining the effectiveness of the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is genotype hepatitis C (HCV). The aim of the study was to determine and compare the genotypes distribution among adults (2100) and children (381) patients from the Department of Infectious Diseases in Bydgoszcz diagnosed in years 2003 to 2013 due to hepatitis C (HCV) infection. The most common genotype was genotype 1 HCV which was detected in 1819 (73%) of the 2481 patients. The second most common was genotype 4, which was detected in 16% of patients. With the lowest incidence occurred genotype 3, detected in 11% of patients. In both study groups genotype 1 was predominant and it occurred in 74% of adults and 69% of children. In group I, genotype 3 and 4 occurred with similar frequency, it was found, respectively in 261 and 283 of 2100 adult patients. Among patients under 18 years, second in frequency - genotype 4 was detected in 29% of patients. Genotype 3 occurred in only 2% of children. The largest differences in the prevalence of HCV genotypes between groups were found for genotype 4.   Key words: Hepatitis C, HCV genotype, children.