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Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in children

Pier-Angelo Tovo1, Luisella Lazier, Antonia Versace

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. pierangelo.tovo@unito.it

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|May 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis B vaccine coverage needs improvement globally. While hepatitis B and C infections are often mild in children, early treatment is crucial due to long-term concerns, though optimal therapies require further study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hepatology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Hepatitis B and C virus infections pose long-term health risks, even if asymptomatic in childhood.
  • Understanding transmission, natural history, and treatment efficacy in children is critical for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent data on hepatitis B vaccination efficacy, duration, and coverage.
  • To analyze hepatitis B and C virus transmission, natural history, and treatment in pediatric populations.
  • To assess the efficacy and safety of current therapies for childhood hepatitis B and C.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of recent scientific literature.
  • Analysis of data on vaccine coverage, viral mutants, and transmission dynamics.
  • Evaluation of clinical trial outcomes for antiviral therapies in children.

Main Results:

  • Hepatitis B vaccine coverage is insufficient in many regions; viral mutants may impact efficacy.
  • No effective interventions prevent vertical hepatitis C virus transmission.
  • Hepatitis B and C infections progress slower in children than adults, with lower spontaneous clearance rates for hepatitis B.
  • Interferon-based therapies show efficacy and safety in children, but optimal treatment remains undefined.

Conclusions:

  • Long-term persistence of hepatitis B immunity is uncertain in low-endemicity areas.
  • Routine hepatitis C screening during pregnancy is not recommended due to lack of prophylaxis.
  • Early treatment for childhood hepatitis B and C is advised, preferably within clinical trials to optimize efficacy and tolerance.
Abstract

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