Treatment of chronic hepatitis B in children.
Chronic hepatitis B infection remains a significant health problem worldwide, and acquisition during infancy or childhood causes many of the chronic infections that are responsible for the morbidity associated with this disease. Some children with chronic hepatitis B are candidates for treatment. Two medications are currently licensed for use in children, and it is anticipated that others will be available in the next several years. This article describes rationale for treatment, patient selection and pros and cons of the current and expected therapeutic options.
Jonas
Maureen M
MM
Children's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine