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Hepatitis A associated with other focal infections
A Klar1, E Gross-Kieselstein, G Shazberg
1Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Bikur Cholim General Hospital, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. aklar@inter.net.il
Background:
Concomitant bacterial and viral infection is a well-known phenomenon, however only very rarely has a bacterial infection been reported during hepatitis A virus infection.
Objective:
To evaluate retrospectively the clinical records of children hospitalized with HAV infection for a concomitant infection proved or presumed to be bacterial.
Method:
A retrospective study was conducted on all the children hospitalized with hepatitis A infection from 1988-96 in our center. The records were evaluated for a concomitant infection.
Results:
Of 40 children hospitalized with HAV infection, 13 were found to have a concomitant infection: these included 6 with pneumonia, 4 with pyelonephritis and 1 case each of purulent otitis media, osteomyelitis and staphylococcal bacteremia.
Conclusion:
In areas where hepatitis A is endemic, a simultaneous infection with hepatitis A and other common bacterial infection during childhood may co-exist. A permissive role for HAV infection is suggested.