The objective of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive description of epidemiology, natural history, treatment, and outcomes of acute and chronic viral hepatitis in children. Different viruses can commonly cause acute hepatitis in children and are rare causes of acute liver failure in the immunocompetent host. Hepatitis B and C are the main causes of chronic viral hepatitis worldwide. The therapies currently available against hepatitis B are effective in controlling viral replication but cannot induce an effective immunological response and obtain viral elimination. There is need to stimulate and advance the research on new treatments for hepatitis B. The approval of direct-acting antivirals active against hepatitis C virus changed significantly the approach to children with this chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis C is now curable. The use of direct-acting antiviral regimens results in high virological response rates independently of the child's treatment history, the viral genotype, the presence or absence of coinfections, and the stage of liver disease after a course of treatment as short as 8 weeks. The safety profile of the new therapies is excellent.
Elsevier, Comprehensive Guide to Hepatitis Advances, 2023, Pages 603-628
