Hepatitis B virus infection in children
- 27 February 2015
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy
- Vol. 13 (4), 1-24
- https://doi.org/10.1586/14787210.2015.1019867
Abstract
For two decades, hepatitis B vaccine has been integrated into national routine childhood vaccination programs in almost all countries. The prevalence of HBsAg has decreased in children worldwide. However, there are children who miss the benefit of hepatitis B vaccine in some regions and countries. Long-term follow-up studies have revealed the clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in children. A small percentage of chronically infected children develop liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, it is controversial who should be treated and when antiviral treatment should be initiated in children. Compared with adult studies, the data are insufficient to evaluate the pathogenesis of hepatitis B infection and the efficacy of antiviral treatment in childhood. New antiviral drugs have been approved for children and adults. Also, oral antiviral drugs are administered to pregnant women to reduce the hepatitis B virus mother-to-child transmission rate.Keywords
This publication has 99 references indexed in Scilit:
- Minimization of hepatitis B infection by a 25-year universal vaccination programJournal of Hepatology, 2012
- Optimal Management of the Hepatitis B Patient Who Desires Pregnancy or Is PregnantCurrent Hepatitis Reports, 2012
- HBV DNA suppression during entecavir treatment in previously treated children with chronic hepatitis BEuropean Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 2011
- Hepatitis B Therapy in PregnancyCurrent Hepatitis Reports, 2010
- The changing pattern of epidemiology in hepatocellular carcinomaDigestive and Liver Disease, 2010
- Chronic hepatitis B: Update 2009Journal of Hepatology, 2009
- Hepatitis B virus infectionThe Lancet, 2009
- A comparison of hepatitis B seroepidemiology in ten European countriesEpidemiology and Infection, 2008
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Epidemiology and Molecular CarcinogenesisGastroenterology, 2007
- The development of hepatocellular carcinoma among prospectively followed children with chronic hepatitis B virus infectionThe Journal of Pediatrics, 2004