Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy
07:10

Measurement of the Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient and Transjugular Liver Biopsy

Published on: June 18, 2020

22.8K

The management of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in children

Irini D Batsis1, Paul Wasuwanich2, Wikrom W Karnsakul3

  • 1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nutrition, and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Minerva Pediatrica
|October 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) pose a significant disease burden, particularly in children. Prevention strategies like vaccination for HBV and new direct-acting antivirals for HCV are crucial for managing pediatric infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hepatology
  • Viral Hepatitis Research

Background:

  • Hepatitis B (HB) and hepatitis C (HC) infections present a growing global health challenge, with vertical transmission from mothers to children being a common route.
  • Unlike adults, children with HBV and HCV infections rarely achieve spontaneous viral clearance and often remain asymptomatic until adulthood, increasing the risk of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the disease burden of HBV and HCV infections in children.
  • To discuss current prevention and treatment strategies for pediatric HBV and HCV.
  • To highlight the evolving treatment landscape for HCV in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of HBV and HCV infection in children.
  • Analysis of transmission modes, clinical progression, and management strategies.
  • Examination of current and emerging therapeutic options.

Main Results:

  • HBV prevention in infants involves vaccination and, for infants born to infected mothers, immunoglobulin, achieving 95% transmission prevention.
  • HCV lacks a vaccine, necessitating a focus on treatment, with direct-acting antivirals showing promise over interferon-based regimens.
  • Clinical trials are actively investigating the efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals in children under 12.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric HBV and HCV infections require tailored management strategies focusing on prevention and evolving treatments.
  • Vaccination and immunoglobulin are effective for HBV prevention in newborns.
  • Direct-acting antivirals represent a significant advancement in pediatric HCV treatment, with ongoing research for younger age groups.

More Related Videos

Modeling Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Non-Hepatic 293T-NE-3NRs Cells09:02

Modeling Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Non-Hepatic 293T-NE-3NRs Cells

Published on: June 5, 2020

7.9K
Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle09:35

Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle

Published on: February 1, 2017

14.0K

Related Concept Videos

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
280
Hepatic Portal System01:21

Hepatic Portal System

The hepatic portal system, a critical part of our circulatory framework, transports nutrient-laden, deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. This ingenious system plays an indispensable role in maintaining our body's metabolic equilibrium.
At its core, the hepatic portal vein is the result of a confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins along with the splenic vein. Each of these veins has a unique role. The superior mesenteric vein is...
5.9K
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug...
244
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors01:16

Hepatic Drug Excretion: Influencing Factors

The biliary system of the liver, crucial for bile secretion and drug excretion, comprises intrahepatic bile ducts that merge to form the common hepatic duct. This duct, carrying hepatic bile, combines with the cystic duct, draining the gallbladder and forming the common bile duct, which empties into the duodenum. Bile, produced by hepatic cells lining the bile canaliculi, is composed primarily of water, bile salts, pigments, electrolytes, and lesser amounts of cholesterol and fatty acids. Bile...
581
Hepatic Drug Clearance: Role of Transporters01:14

Hepatic Drug Clearance: Role of Transporters

In the liver and bile canaliculi, influx and efflux transporters modification can influence intrinsic clearance. Transporters play a significant role in moving drugs within liver cells. Elaborate models, such as the Biopharmaceutical Classification System (BCS), are essential to relate transporters to drug disposition. This system categorizes drugs into four classes based on solubility and permeability, providing insights into elimination routes and the effects of transporters following oral...
309
Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling01:17

Hepatic Drug Excretion: Enterohepatic Cycling

Enterohepatic cycling involves the active secretion of drugs and their metabolites into the bile via transporters in the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. This secretion is an integral part of the digestive process, releasing these substances into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Post-release drugs and metabolites can be reabsorbed into the body from the intestine. For conjugated metabolites like glucuronides, reabsorption requires enzymatic hydrolysis by intestinal microflora. This...
2.8K