Hepatitis In Children: Causes And Symptoms
Hepatitis in children, as well as in adults, consists of an inflammation of the liver. The liver is an organ located on the right side of the abdomen and acts as a system for purifying the body of toxins.
It also produces several substances essential for life, such as coagulation factors and is involved in the process of digestion. The problem is that when it becomes inflamed, the liver cannot function properly.
Although the incidence of hepatitis in children has decreased due to vaccines against certain viruses, it is a major health problem. It is an infection that can go unnoticed, but at some point in life, it leads to complications.
Most hepatitis is caused by viruses that have an affinity for the liver. In this article, we will explain what hepatitis is in children and what are its most common causes.
What causes hepatitis in children?
As already mentioned, hepatitis in children is caused almost exclusively by viruses. They are grouped in a family called hepatitis viruses. The most important are hepatitis A, B and C viruses, although there are others, such as hepatitis D and E viruses, which are less common.
The most common cause of hepatitis in children is the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The disease it causes is benign and self-limiting. In Spain, for example, it affects almost 5% of children. This virus spreads through the fecal-oral route. For example, when we do not wash our hands properly after using the bathroom, we can get sick.
Most cases occur in places where there are no good hygienic conditions. When we consume water that is not properly treated and purified, it may contain traces of feces that carry the virus.
Hepatitis in children due to HAV often goes unnoticed because the clinical manifestations are not very serious. Sometimes outbreaks occur or there is a high level of infection among members of the same family.
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is more serious, not because the infection initially produces more pronounced symptoms, but because it tends to become chronic. This virus is spread mainly because the mother transmits it to the baby during pregnancy or birth.
There are also many cases where the virus spreads during adolescence. This can happen in teens who are addicted to injectable drugs such as heroin. It can also be transmitted when performing tattoos or piercings without proper hygiene measures.
Nowadays, hepatitis in children does not occur too often due to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), because safety measures have improved significantly. This virus is also transmitted parenterally, and the vast majority of cases come from infected mothers. Even in this situation, the little ones are less likely to be infected.
However, viral hepatitis C tends to become chronic. In fact, almost 75% of cases of infection eventually progress to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Therefore, it is essential that the disease be prevented and treated.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis in children?
As already mentioned, hepatitis in children can go unnoticed. Its symptoms are quite nonspecific and in some cases mild. For example, it can manifest itself in the form of a feeling of fatigue and general malaise.
In some cases, children suffer from jaundice. Their skin and eyes turn yellow. There may also be:
