Final answer:
Chronic carriage of HCV is likely in children who get the virus from vertical transmission, with 75%-85% of infected individuals overall becoming chronic carriers.
Vertical transmission usually occurs during childbirth from an infected mother, and while perinatal infections tend to be milder, they can cause serious liver damage. Effective medication tailored to the virus genotype is available, but specific HCV vaccinations are not.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a child gets HCV from vertical transmission, chronic carriage of the virus is likely. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), while sometimes asymptomatic, leads to a chronic infection in 75%-85% of infected individuals. Unlike hepatitis A and E, which are mostly self-limiting, HCV's chronic infection can seriously affect the liver over time.
In cases of vertical transmission, infants born to HCV-positive mothers may become infected during childbirth. This mode of transmission is part of what is referred to as mother-to-child transmission or vertical transmission.
Fortunately, new medications for HCV are highly effective and tailored to the specific genotype of the virus. Vaccination strategies, as applied for the prevention of other hepatitis viruses like HBV, are not currently available for HCV.
Perinatal infections of HCV, acquired during birth from an infected mother, tend to be less severe than infections acquired during adulthood, although serious complications such as liver damage can occur.
Notably, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HCV can be reduced by antiviral treatments during pregnancy and avoiding invasive procedures during childbirth that could increase the risk of blood exposure.
As the risk of vertical transmission in HCV is a concerning aspect, screening and treatment of pregnant women can be crucial for preventing the spread of the virus to the newborn.