What can be more heartbreaking than seeing your jumpy-jack kids are sick? As long as it’s something familiar, you can bear it. But what if it’s something serious like hepatitis? Things will be tough then.
But how will you know it’s hepatitis? What are child hepatitis symptoms?
The most common child hepatitis symptoms are yellowing of the skin, clay-colored stool, and pale white eyes. The rest of the symptoms are more or less similar to common flu, digestive track issue, or simple joint pain. Blooding testing and liver biopsy are the ways to confirm child hepatitis.
You must be wondering then why I said 15 symptoms. Let me give you the complete list of hepatitis symptoms in children.
Table of Content
Child Hepatitis Symptoms
Health professionals and pediatrics keep an eye on the following symptoms in a child. If one or more than one shows up, it’s a red flag, and you need to be concerned.
- Yellowing of your kid’s skin
- Itchy red skin hives
- LIght clay-colored poop
- Dark urine
- Lethargic
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Malaise
- Muscle soreness
- Stomachache (upper right corner)
- Abdominal swelling
- Flu-like symptoms
Yes, as I said earlier, the symptoms are similar to other common health issues. But if you see more than one of them together, it’s time to call your pediatrician.
What Causes Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver caused by different viruses, toxic chemicals, specific drugs, alcohol abuse, and simply the hyperactive immune system.
Exposure to particular viruses is the leading cause of hepatitis, viral hepatitis. So you better have an idea about the viruses that cause liver inflammation.
News: Why COVID is a key suspect in severe hepatitis cases in kids worldwide
Hepatitis Viruses
Hepatitis viruses cause the most common and severe types of child hepatitis, including A, B, C, D, and E. The viruses that cause these variations are
- Hepatovirus A (cause Hepatitis A)
- Hepatitis B virus (cause Hepatitis B)
- Hepacivirus C (cause Hepatitis C)
- Hepatitis delta virus (cause Hepatitis D)
- Orthohepevirus A (cause Hepatitis E)
Other viruses
Here are other virus types that can also cause hepatitis. They include
- Epstein-Barr virus
- Rubella
- Parvovirus
- Cytomegalovirus
- Herpes simplex virus
- Enteroviruses
- Varicella zoster virus
- Adenovirus
Which Children Can Get Hepatitis
Not every child is at equal risk of getting all types of hepatitis. A particular group of children can get infected with a specific hepatitis type.
Hepatitis A
- Children exposed to an unhygienic environment
- A child who doesn’t have access to clean water and sanitation
- Exposed to drug abuse
Hepatitis B
- Children who born to a mother with the disease
- Exposed to someone with hepatitis B in the household
- Disabled children
- Children with blood clotting issues
- Children with kidney issues
- Exposed to drug abuse
Hepatitis C
- Children with blood clotting issues
- Children with kidney issues
- Exposed to drug abuse
- Children who born to a mother with the disease
Hepatitis D
- Children who are born to a mother who already has hepatitis B
Hepatitis E
- Children exposed to unhygienic environments
- A child who doesn’t have access to clean water and sanitation
- Exposed to drug abuse
Treating your child can be much easier if you notice the child hepatitis symptoms earlier. Blood testing and liver biopsy will tell you the exact cause, and your doctor will start the treatment with medicine, supportive care, and other essential procedures.
So stay vigilant to keep your child safe from hepatitis.
