Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver failure in adulthood. Although the prevalence of HCV is reportedly as high as 80% in incarcerated adult populations, little is known about the prevalence of HCV in incarcerated juvenile populations. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV and high-risk behaviors in a population of incarcerated youths.
Hepatobiliary Program, Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, Washington 98105-0371, USA. kmurra@chmc.org
