[Viral hepatitis A and B as a mixed infection in children]

Serological examinations of 1,200 children, hospitalized at the viral hepatitis department over a year, for the presence of hepatitis A (HA) and hepatitis B (HB) markers have revealed a 7% incidence rate of mixed HA and HB infections. Three variants of mixed infection have been established (true mixed infection, HA combined with asymptomatic HBsAg carriership, cross superinfection) and the relative significance of each of them has been determined. Mixed infection took an unfavorable course with a tendency to the prolongation of the pathological process eventuating in chronic hepatitis, especially in cases of true mixed infections (15.9%).