Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Children

Although most related complications of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occur during adulthood, nearly half of the primary infection in chronic HBV carriers occurs in perinatal period through maternal transmission and the other half through horizontal transmission mainly through intrafamilial spread or injection using unsteriled needles in hyperendemic areas. Children with chronic HBV infection are mostly asymptomatic. They grow normally. Even with acute exacerbation of liver function and active inflammation, jaundice or growth failure is uncommon. Mild histologic abnormalities is the liver begins early in life and may progress to severe liver impairment in later life. Severe liver damage, with bridging hepatic necrosis or fibrosis, or cirrhosis of the liver may occur, but is rare during childhood. HBV vaccination should be integrated into the routine immunization of infancy. Unversal immunization program of HBV has been proved to be effective in reducing hepatitis B carrier rate for more than ten folds, and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children has also been reduced significantly