When still in the maternity hospital a fragile baby starts to get sick with jaundice, doctors never sound the alarm. Since this phenomenon is natural, it is quite common and amenable to rapid treatment. However, in older children, yellowed eyes or skin can be signs of hepatitis infection.
Hepatitis in children - symptoms
A newborn who is in the hospital must be given two vaccines: one against hepatitis B, and the other against tuberculosis (the so-called BCG). This attention to the virus is not accidental. In adults, hepatitis occurs with characteristic features, and in young children, the disease develops almost asymptomatically. Therefore, at the age of 3 and 6 months, children are re-vaccinated. The vaccine against hepatitis A is given to babies from the age of three and is repeated only six months later. However, the vaccine administered to the child's body does not always help to avoid the disease.
Signs of hepatitis A (Botkin's disease)
This infection can enter the body through food, from a person infected with the virus, or through unwashed hands. Hepatitis A is considered the most common infection. The onset of the disease is manifested by an increase in temperature and symptoms similar to the flu (chills, aches throughout the body, weakness). After that, the gastrointestinal tract and liver begin to hurt. In babies, these symptoms will be subtle. The child may complain of heaviness and pain in the right hypochondrium and refuse to eat. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. At night, the baby may be bothered by itching. After a few days, the urine may stain the color of beer, and the feces, on the contrary, will be discolored.
Signs of Hepatitis B (Serum Hepatitis)
This virus is more dangerous than hepatitis A. It can easily be transmitted through mother's milk, saliva, blood and even tears. It is rather difficult to determine the signs of hepatitis B in babies. In this case, it is worth paying attention to the following indicators and complaints: nosebleeds and bleeding of the gums; temperature increase; skin rash; enlargement of the liver, damage to the biliary tract and pancreas; pain in the right side of the abdomen.
Signs of hepatitis C
This virus is the most dangerous. It has the properties of constantly changing, which makes it possible for it to live in the human body for many years. Its main symptoms during infection are: lack of appetite, yellow skin staining, fatigue, weakness, darkening of urine and lightening of feces. In children, this virus is mild or generally asymptomatic. Usually, after an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, an accurate diagnosis can be made and its treatment can be started.
Any form of disease is treated with proper nutrition and bed rest. When the condition improves, the treatment procedure can be supplemented with choleretic drugs that improve metabolic processes in the liver cells. With hepatitis B, you can also add antiviral drugs.
