Allow the child to eat whatever is wanted. A high energy diet with a lot of carbohydrate is best tolerated. Keep the child at home if possible. Good hygiene prevents other children getting hepatitis. Hepatitis A is most infectious in the days just before the onset of jaundice. Look out for danger signs of depressed [...]
Hepatitis A: This virus is spread by the virus in stool-contaminated food or water, which is then eaten or drunk by someone else (the faeco-oral route). Good sanitation, clean water, hand-washing before meals and the hygienic preparation of food are therefore important to prevent the spread of the virus. A very effective vaccine to prevent [...]
Liver failure with acute viral hepatitis is uncommon. Liver failure presents with drowsiness and confusion or severe vomiting. These children need urgent referral to hospital. Some of these children die. Chronic hepatitis due to the hepatitis B virus may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer in adulthood. Therefore, it is important to prevent hepatitis due [...]
Acute viral hepatitis in children is often asymptomatic or presents with loose stools and a general feeling of being unwell. Clinical hepatitis may develop with loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and pain over the liver. The liver is enlarged and tender. Some children have jaundice with dark urine and pale stools. Acute hepatitis is [...]
There are 2 common causes of acute viral hepatitis in children: Hepatitis A virus: This has a shorter incubation period (15–50 days) and is spread by swallowing the virus in contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A is the most common type of hepatitis in children. Hepatitis B virus: This has a longer incubation period (5–150 [...]
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Although there are many causes of hepatitis, the main cause in children is viral. During the early stages of hepatitis both bilirubin and urobilin are present in the urine when tested with reagent strips. This is a useful way of confirming the diagnosis of hepatitis. With hepatitis there [...]
