Children and Hep C

Parents with children who are diagnosed with hep C have been reaching out to my foundation (The Bonnie Morgan Foundation for HCV) for direction as to what to do when a young child has hep C, asking if we can help them find information or other families struggling with the same health crisis.

As we know, hepatitis C does not discriminate. It can affect any race, gender, and age. 

Rise of rate of children with hep C

Many, if not most, of these children are contracting hep C through their birth mothers, who were themselves positive for hep C. Because of the rise in opioid/IV drug use among the youth in our county, adoption agencies are getting many children born with hep C who are then adopted out to new families.

I have seen this increase in number personally over the last six years. Hep C was originally brought into the public view via news, media, and literature stating that baby boomers need to be tested since they are at the primary age for being at risk. 

However, with the growing amount of IV drug addiction in the youth and young adults, we are seeing a huge incline of young children 1-5 years of age being diagnosed with hep C.

It is my personal opinion that we need to do more to help those families that are adopting children with hep C, possibly by introducing media campaigns similar to those that were launched when we first learned about hep C. This time, however, those campaigns would focus on children, maybe providing adoption agencies and pediatricians' offices with pamphlets so parents are not blind to the possibility.

Supporting families

One of my foundation's private support groups is geared strictly toward the children of hep C. We bring parents and families of children who are facing a hepatitis C diagnosis togetherin the same way we connect adults with hep C.

I am blessed with a great team, all of whom have experience with hep C. For example, one family adopted a boy and later learned he had contracted hep C from his birth mom. This boy endured harsh treatments only to fail and then be treated like an outcaste in school because of his hep C diagnosis. He and his family fought so hard for him to be treated like any other child. As soon as the clinical trial for hep C for children came out, they jumped at the chance to participate. 

I am so proud to say the boy has cleared the virus and is now a hep C-free teenager.  I am blessed to have gotten to see and be part of his journey.  His story and his family have touched my life in ways that we will forever be like they are family.

It is awful that anyone has to battle with hep C and all the side effects, but I can’t imagine being 2 to 5 years of age and not being able to communicate how you feel properly with your family and doctor. This group shares ways to helping each other through treatment with such tips as how to get a 2-year-old to take the medication or ways to “trick” them into taking it. Families find comfort in finding they are not alone.

Let us keep those children and their families in our thoughts and prayers as they fight hep C and endure its treatments. Together we are strong!