Acute and chronic hepatitis in children.
Discrimination between hepatitis A and B is becoming easier as the serologic and clinical characteristics of each type become better known. Hepatitis A is generally a benign pediatric illness with few sequelae. In contrast, hepatitis B is more often associated with complications and may progress to chronic liver disease in as many as 10% of cases. Chronic persistent hepatitis appears to be a benign disorder not requiring therapy. Occasionally related etiologically to virus B, chronic active hepatitis is often associated with severe clinical illness. However, it generally responds to steroid therapy, at least initially, and may be arrested or cured.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D009626:Terminology as Topic