Medical expert of the article
New publications
Chronic hepatitis in children
Last reviewed: 12.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Chronic hepatitis in children is a chronic polyetiological inflammatory-dystrophic-proliferative liver disease without disruption of its lobular structure.
According to WHO, about 2 billion people in the world are infected with the hepatitis B virus, of which more than 400 million are chronic carriers of this infection. In 10-25% of cases, chronic carriage of the hepatitis B virus develops into severe liver disease. In cases of congenital hepatitis B, chronicity of the disease occurs in 90% of cases.
About 500 million people in the world are carriers of the hepatitis C virus. 65-75% of them eventually develop chronic hepatitis, 10-20% of patients with chronic hepatitis C develop liver cirrhosis, and 15% develop hepatoma.
[ Causes of chronic hepatitis
Most often, the formation of chronic hepatitis is etiologically associated with hepatitis viruses.
- Chronic hepatitis is caused by viruses, mainly transmitted parenterally:
- hepatitis C virus (HCV) is detected in 30-50% of cases in children with chronic hepatitis;
- hepatitis B virus (HBV) - in 15-20% of cases, usually simultaneously with the delta virus (HDV);
- hepatitis F, G viruses - less than 1% of cases;
- cytomegalovirus, herpes, rubella, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus - very rare, mainly in young children.
What causes chronic hepatitis?
Symptoms of chronic hepatitis
Symptoms of chronic hepatitis in children and adults are largely similar.
Chronic viral hepatitis with moderate activity (grade I) is characterized by a benign course. Dull pain in the right hypochondrium, moderate hepatomegaly. Subicteric mucous membranes and skin only during periods of exacerbation. Hemorrhagic syndrome, "liver signs" are not typical. In the blood of 65-70% of patients, the surface antigen of hepatitis B (HBsAg) is detected, in some cases - the nuclear antigen of hepatitis B (HBeAg). During the period of exacerbation, a moderate increase in the activity of cytolytic enzymes, gamma globulins, sedimentary tests is observed.
Where does it hurt?
What's bothering you?
Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis
Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis is based on a comprehensive examination of the patient:
Diseases of the digestive system
- clinical and biochemical;
- virological;
- immunological;
- morphological;
- assessment of the state of portal hemodynamics.
The condition of the liver is assessed by the severity of cytolytic syndrome, hepatocyte failure syndrome, mesenchymal-inflammatory syndrome, cholestatic syndrome, liver shunt syndrome, and the presence of indicators of regeneration and tumor growth.
What do need to examine?
Treatment of chronic hepatitis in children
Treatment of chronic hepatitis in children is carried out according to the same principles as in adults.
During an exacerbation of chronic hepatitis, the patient needs bed rest. The regimen is expanded gradually, as the general condition and functional capacity of the liver improve.
The diet depends on the stage of the disease. The amount of fat in the daily diet is somewhat reduced, and the carbohydrate content is increased compared to physiological needs. In cases of liver failure, the amount of protein is halved.
Использованная литература