title: [Hepatitis B in children--diagnosis, follow-up and treatment].
abstract: 350 million people worldwide are chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus. Mainly because of immigration, the number of children with chronic hepatitis B infection in Norway is also increasing, although the absolute number is still small. In April 2001, a group of Norwegian paediatricians interested in infectious diseases held a meeting to discuss the clinical management of chronic hepatitis B in children and develop recommendations. The recommendations are based on current European and American guidelines, experience from England and Sweden, and a review of the literature. International epidemiological data and data from Norway are briefly presented, followed by recommendations regarding diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in children. Children at risk of contracting hepatitis B from their mothers should be immunized shortly after birth. Paediatricians should follow up children with chronic hepatitis B infections in order to identify those who may be eligible for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Seksjon for infeksjonssykdommer Barnemedisinsk avdeling Ullevål universitetssykehus 0407 Oslo. karl-olaf.wathne@ulleval.no
authors.forename: Karl-Olaf
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Wathne
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rojahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens