Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 19, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Hepatitis B Virus Detection
04:11

Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Hepatitis B Virus Detection

Published on: December 15, 2023

4.3K

Paediatric hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections: An observational study of a Danish cohort

Christoph Norden1, Mikkel Malham1, Sannie Nordly1

  • 1The Paediatric Department, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections in Danish children are generally mild. However, early infection and high viral loads increase the risk of severe liver disease in childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections pose significant global health challenges.
  • Understanding the long-term impact of these viral infections in pediatric populations is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the epidemiological and clinical features of chronic HBV and HCV infections in children in Denmark.
  • To assess the progression and outcomes of viral hepatitis in a pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

  • An observational study included children and adolescents diagnosed with chronic HBV or HCV infection between 2001 and 2013.
  • Data collected encompassed epidemiological factors, viral genotypes, viral loads, serological markers, liver biochemistry, and liver elastography/histology when available.

Main Results:

  • The study analyzed 131 children with chronic HBV or HCV.
  • No patients experienced decreased liver function or end-stage liver disease during follow-up.
  • Fibrosis was observed in 10 of 18 children who underwent liver biopsy; 11% with HBV and 7% with HCV received treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic HBV and HCV infections typically present as mild conditions in childhood.
  • Despite generally mild presentations, children infected early or with high viral loads face an elevated risk of severe liver disease.
Abstract

Keywords:
children/adolescentschronic hepatitishepatitis B virushepatitis C virusliver cirrhosis

More Related Videos

"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection10:25

"Liver-on-a-Chip" Cultures of Primary Hepatocytes and Kupffer Cells for Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Published on: February 19, 2019

11.9K
Detection of Low Copy Number Integrated Viral DNA Formed by In Vitro Hepatitis B Infection11:14

Detection of Low Copy Number Integrated Viral DNA Formed by In Vitro Hepatitis B Infection

Published on: November 7, 2018

18.7K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
123
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
116
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
147
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
164
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
187
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients01:15

Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...
80