Low Frequency of Hepatitis C Antibodies among Children from Foreign Countries Adopted in Swedish Families

Abstract

89 children from 20 countries adopted to Swedish parents between 1984 and 1988 were tested for the presence of hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV). Sera taken soon after their arrival to Sweden were retrospectively analyzed. Two children, an 18-month-old boy from Poland and an 8-month-old girl from India, were anti-HCV positive. The girl from India had lost the anti-HCV antibodies in sera taken at the age of 13 and 14 months. These antibodies were probably passively derived from the mother. The Polish boy had a strong positive reactivity and is likely to have had an HCV infection early in life. Thus, there is a low prevalence of anti-HCV positively among children from foreign countries adopted in Swedish families.