Today is World Hepatitis Day where healthcare professionals and those who live with hepatitis band together to raise awareness of the disease.
It is celebrated on July 28 every year because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize-winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed the diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus used today.
Among other ailments, the disease can cause liver inflammation and damage, with almost 10% of patients needing a liver transplant.
But what are the symptoms you need to look out for in your child?
Here is everything you need to know.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is used as a term to describe inflammation of the liver and is often caused by a viral infection.
In adults, it can also be caused by liver damage due to alcohol consumption.
There are several different types of hepatitis, including:
- Hepatitis A: This is usually caught by consuming food and drink contaminated with the poo of an infected person, and is most common in countries where sanitation is poor.
- Hepatitis B: This is spread in the blood of an infected person and is a common infection worldwide and is usually spread from infected pregnant women to their babies, or from child-to-child contact.
- Hepatitis C: The most common type of viral hepatitis in the UK. It’s usually spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person.
- Hepatitis D: Only affects people who are already infected with hepatitis B. It is usually spread through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact. It’s uncommon in the UK but is more widespread in other parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America.
- Hepatitis E: Mainly associated with the consumption of raw or undercooked pork meat or offal, wild boar meat, venison, and shellfish. It is generally a mild and short-term infection that does not require any treatment.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis in children?
Symptoms vary from child to child, but there are some key telltale signs to look out for.
Symptoms of hepatitis in children may include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Fever
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Diarrhoea
- Joint pain
- Sore muscles
- Itchy red hives on the skin
- Clay-coloured stools
- Dark-coloured urine
If your child has any persistent or troublesome symptoms that you think could be caused by hepatitis, get in touch with their doctor to receive medical advice and a diagnosis.
How is hepatitis diagnosed in children?
If your doctor suspects hepatitis after a physical exam, then they may need to run further tests.
This could include a blood test, looking at liver enzymes, liver function, antibody and polymerase chain reaction, cellular blood counts, and coagulation tests.
Your child may also need to undergo a CT scan, ultrasound, MRI, or even a liver biopsy.
How is hepatitis treated in children?
Your child’s treatment plan will depend on their age and the severity of their disease.
Most children will be offered some medicine to help with the itching, lower their temperature, and fight the virus.
Mild cases can be treated at home with rest and fluids.
More severe cases may require a hospital stay and, if their condition is really bad, will need a liver transplant.
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