Viral hepatitis: update

Abstract

Objective: The authors present an update related to different types of viral hepatitis in infancy. The clinic-laboratorial and special outcome aspects are presented. Methods: The most important articles about viral hepatitis were selected through Medline. The epidemiologic and clinical characteristics related to the subject are reported with emphasis on Brazilian data. Results: This review analyzes the diseases caused by agents that have in common the viral origin and the hepatotropism, but the hepatitis are different particularly in those aspects related to outcome and prognosis. The B virus, for example, may be related to healthy asymptomatic carrier to acute hepatitis, chronic disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To date the known viruses are six: A, B, C, D, E and G. Conclusions: Viral hepatitis is a disease caused by one of the 6 different hepatotropic viruses which originate a wide range of clinical presentations. The viral distribution in Brazil is irregular; in some regions the B virus is prevalent, in others it is rare. The viral infections are the most important e the most frequent causes of liver disease in Brazilian children. The present review is to update viral hepatitis in infancy.