Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C in Children and Adolescents Aged 3 Years and Older

Clinical Scenario

Age ≥ 3 years This protocol covers children and adolescents aged 3 years and older with chronic hepatitis C infection — whether presenting without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis — who have not previously received any HCV treatment.

Treatment Approach

Approved direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens — including pangenotypic options now available for children as young as 3 years — form the basis of management, with regimen selection and duration specified in the full protocol.

Treatment Goal

The primary target is sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completion of therapy (SVR12), defined as undetectable HCV RNA.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad319

The Guidance Panel reaffirms its recommendation to treat all HCV-infected children and adolescents aged ≥3 years with an approved DAA regimen regardless of disease severity.

The June 2021 approval of 2 pangenotypic regimens (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for children as young as 3 years.

SVR12, sustained virologic response 12 weeks after completion of therapy.

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