Infections of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children and pregnant women are less understood than those in other adults.
[3] Factors associated with an increased rate of infection include membrane rupture of longer than 6 hours before delivery and procedures exposing the infant to maternal blood.
HCV infection is frequently found in children who have previously been presumed to have non-A, non-B hepatitis and cryptogenic liver disease.
[7] While infection is commonly asymptomatic both cirrhosis with liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma may occur in childhood.
[citation needed] Both pegylated interferon and ribavirin are unsuitable for use in pregnancy and infancy: newer methods of treatment are urgently required.