Chronic Hepatitis B In Children: Case Series From A Tertiary Paediatric Hospital

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Virology

Background:

• Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a global health concern, particularly in children.
• Seroconversion is linked to better long-term outcomes in CHB patients.
• Current treatment strategies for pediatric CHB lack consensus regarding timing and duration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical course of CHB in children.
• To identify characteristics of pediatric patients achieving spontaneous seroconversion.
• To compare the efficacy of different CHB treatment modalities in children.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 114 pediatric patients (aged 1-18 years) diagnosed with CHB.
• Evaluation of spontaneous hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion.
• Comparison of treatment regimens in a subgroup of 31 treated patients.

Main Results:

• Spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 20.6% and HBsAg seroconversion in 1.8% of eligible pediatric patients.
• Patients with HBeAg seroconversion had a longer follow-up period.
• Treated patients presented with statistically higher serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels at diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and CHB remain a significant pediatric health problem.
• Establishing a consensus on the appropriate upper limit of normal (ULN) for ALT is crucial for guiding hepatitis treatment in children.