Can children be treated?

Yes, children can be treated for Hepatitis C. Just like adults, children will need to be assessed for treatment. A factor in the decision to treat is whether the child and their family are committed to treatment. This is because it is very important that once started, the child keeps on taking their medicine right to the end of the course, and this can be hard, even with support

The drugs used in treatment can cause side effects, so if your child has mild or no liver damage, particularly with genotype 1 or 4 infection, doctors may feel it is better to monitor your child's condition and delay treatment. However, treatment is being offered to some children with genotype 2 or 3 disease even if they have no evidence of chronic hepatitis because there is a good chance of success.