Abstract

DINIZ-SANTOS, Daniel Rui; MELO, Maria Clotildes Nunes de; MELO, Rita Franca  and  SILVA, Luciana Rodrigues. Acute liver failure complicating viral hepatitis A. Braz J Infect Dis [online]. 2004, vol.8, n.2, pp. 180-183. ISSN 1413-8670.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-86702004000200009.

Hepatitis A is one of the most frequent infectious liver diseases affecting children worldwide. The disease is usually mild and self-limited, and complications are very rare. Nevertheless, hepatitis A can sometimes cause acute liver failure (ALF), a severe, life-threatening condition. Herein is reported a case of a child who presented ALF during a course of hepatitis A. The need for early identification of possible ALF cases among hepatitis A patients, and for effective ways of evaluating such a possibility, are discussed. We also emphasize the importance of prevention measures, especially vaccination.

Keywords : Hepatitis A; acute liver failure; children.