What is the management of a child with acute viral hepatitis?

  1. 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.
  2. Good hygiene prevents other children getting hepatitis. Hepatitis A is most infectious in the days just before the onset of jaundice.
  3. Look out for danger signs of depressed level of consciousness, severe vomiting, and jaundice that does not clear by 4 weeks. Monitor blood glucose concentration in severely ill children.

Pooled immunoglobulin should be given to hepatitis A contacts and hyperimmune gamma globulin to hepatitis B contacts if affordable and available.

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