Viral hepatitis A, B, and C: grown-up issues.
Viral hepatitis is a major global health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although there are five major and distinct human hepatitis viruses characterized to date--referred to as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, respectively--only hepatitis A, B, and C are epidemiologically and clinically relevant for adolescents in North America. The clinical presentation of acute infection with each of these viruses is similar; thus, diagnosis depends on the use of specific serologic markers and viral nucleic acids. This review provides data on the epidemiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of each of these three viral infections, along with points that are important or unique to adolescent patients.
Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV/AIDS, VH, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS G-37, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. usharapov@cdc.gov
Umid M
UM
Sharapov
Dale J
DJ
Hu
D000293:Adolescent; D000295:Adolescent Medicine; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D014765:Viral Vaccines