Involvement of the gallbladder in the course of viral hepatitis A in childhood

Abstract

The course of acute hepatitis A (AHA) in childhood is most often benign. There are relatively few reports of gallbladder involvement during such infection and its consequences. We discuss the cases of 75 children (mean age = 4.5 years) with confirmed AHA. Clinical and laboratory evaluation upon admission were classical for AHA. Only two children had normal bilirubin levels and 38.7% had visible involvement of the gallbladder with wall thickening of >3 mm, while six met criteria for acute acalculous cholecystitis. There appears to be no clear relationship between thickening of the gallbladder wall and transaminase levels, but a significant relationship with total and direct bilirubin levels ( P < 0.05). Ultrasonographic examination should therefore be carried out in each case of AHA and follow-up should be performed with greater caution, if there are changes in the gallbladder wall.