Viral Hepatitis
Basics
Description
- Viral hepatitis is defined as a systemic viral infection, in which the predominant manifestation is that of hepatic injury and dysfunction.
- It is primarily caused by hepatotropic viruses, which include hepatitis A to E.
- 10% of cases are caused by other viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), rubella, parvovirus, adenovirus, enteroviruses, and others.
Epidemiology
Incidence
- Hepatitis A: ~2,500 cases per year in the United States
- Hepatitis B: 140,000 to 320,000 infections per year worldwide; ~20,000 U.S. cases per year
- Hepatitis C: 30,000 infections per year in the United States
- Hepatitis E: common in poorly developed countries but rare in the United States
Prevalence
- Hepatitis B: United States has a low prevalence with <1% of the population infected; higher rates in certain subgroups such as immigrants from endemic areas, men who have sex with men, and parenteral drug users
- Hepatitis C: United States has prevalence of 1.8%, representing ~3.9 million people (85% chronically infected).
Risk Factors
- Hepatitis A (transmission: fecal–oral)
- Day care attendance, household exposure, travel to endemic areas, men who have sex with men
- Maximum infectivity 2 weeks before jaundice
- Hepatitis B and C (transmission: blood, body fluids, and sexual contact)
- Recipients of blood or blood products
- IV drug users
- Multiple sexual partners
- Men who have sex with men
- Body piercing and tattoos
- HIV-positive status
- Infants born to a mother with hepatitis B or C
- Household contacts with hepatitis B or C
General Prevention
- Good sanitation, hygiene, vaccination, screening blood products, condom use, safe disposal of needles
- Hepatitis A
- Vaccination of all children between the ages of 1 and 18 years, especially those travelling to endemic regions or those with liver disease
- Vaccine (Havrix, Vaqta): 0.5-mL dose IM and second dose 6 to 12 months later
- Prior to travel to an endemic region, immune globulin 0.02 mL/kg should be given to children <1 year of age and considered for children who are immunocompromised or have liver disease.
- Infected patients should avoid return to day care center for 2 weeks after illness subsides.
- Postexposure prophylaxis for healthy children >1 year of age: hepatitis A vaccine
- Postexposure prophylaxis for <1 year of age, immunocompromised individuals or patients with chronic liver disease: immune globulin 0.02 mL/kg IM
- Hepatitis B
- Screen all pregnant women.
- Hepatitis B vaccine to all infants at birth; complete 3-vaccine series 0.5-mL dose IM during infancy.
- Vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) to high-risk infants
- Mother’s with high viral loads or previous vertical transmission should consult a high-risk obstetrician and hepatitis B expert at least 3 to 6 months prior to delivery of another infant.
- Hepatitis C
- Elective C-section has not been shown to reduce vertical transmission.
- During vaginal delivery, avoid fetal scalp monitoring and prolonged rupture of membranes >8 hours.
- Avoid sharing of toothbrushes, nail clippers, and razors.
- Breastfeeding is contraindicated only if mother has active bleeding from nipples.
Pathophysiology
- Acute viral hepatitis tends to affect the liver parenchyma, whereas chronic viral hepatitis affects portal and periportal areas.
- Chronic viral hepatitis (B or C) is defined by continuing viral replication and inflammation of the liver for >6 months.
- Worsening injury leads to extensive fibrosis that occurs between portal tracts (portal bridging), nodular changes, and finally, cirrhosis.
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Citation
Cabana, Michael D., editor. "Viral Hepatitis." 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 8th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2019. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617050/all/Viral_Hepatitis.
Viral Hepatitis. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617050/all/Viral_Hepatitis. Accessed November 9, 2024.
Viral Hepatitis. (2019). In Cabana, M. D. (Ed.), 5-Minute Pediatric Consult (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617050/all/Viral_Hepatitis
Viral Hepatitis [Internet]. In: Cabana MDM, editors. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. [cited 2024 November 09]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617050/all/Viral_Hepatitis.
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