HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Vaccines (ISSN 2076-393X). This special issue belongs to the section "Hepatitis Virus Vaccines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 15577

Special Issue Editors

1. Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
2. Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
Interests: pediatric infectious diseases; hepatology; viral hepatitis
1. Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
2. Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
Interests: pediatric infectious diseases; hepatology; viral hepatitis; HIV

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections are the major causes of chronic liver disease and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Thus, hepatitis B and C have been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the major public health problems worldwide. The estimated global prevalence of HBV infection in children aged 5 years or younger is 1–3%. According to the recent epidemiological reports, there are over 3.2 million children living with HCV worldwide. In 2016, the WHO initiated an ambitious plan to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. The introduction of highly effective and safe direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has radically improved HCV treatment. Unfortunately, little attention has been given to treating children and adolescents living with chronic hepatitis C or hepatitis B. Their access to modern therapies remains limited. This Special Edition of Vaccines aims to provide updated information on epidemiological issues, diagnostics, and treatment in children and adolescents with hepatitis B and C.

Dr. Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak
Prof. Dr. Magdalena Marczyńska
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • HBV
  • HCV
  • children
  • adolescents
  • viral hepatitis

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 189 KiB  
Editorial
HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents
by Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak and Magdalena Marczyńska
Vaccines 2023, 11(2), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020330 - 01 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections are the major causes of chronic liver disease and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents)

Research

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10 pages, 252 KiB  
Article
Parents’ Attitudes towards Vaccinations Regarding the Ukrainian Migration to Poland in 2022
by Martyna Cholewik, Maciej Stępień, Carlo Bieńkowski and Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak
Vaccines 2023, 11(8), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11081306 - 31 Jul 2023
Viewed by 934
Abstract
Background: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in early 2022 resulted in a large migration of refugees to many countries, including Poland. Vaccination coverage for some infectious diseases in Ukraine is lower than in Poland; consequently, the incidence of infectious diseases—including measles, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, and [...] Read more.
Background: Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in early 2022 resulted in a large migration of refugees to many countries, including Poland. Vaccination coverage for some infectious diseases in Ukraine is lower than in Poland; consequently, the incidence of infectious diseases—including measles, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, and COVID-19—is higher. We aimed to investigate whether the migration of Ukrainians had influenced decisions of Polish parents on having their children vaccinated and to examine their attitudes towards vaccinations. Material and methods: A cross-sectional online survey study was designed. Data on parents’ demographics, attitudes toward vaccination, and knowledge of the current epidemiological situation in Poland were collected. Parents participating in the study were divided into two subgroups for further analysis according to their decisions to have their children vaccinated. Results: A total of 568 questionnaires were collected, of which 21 did not meet the inclusion criteria for the analysis (respondents were not parents). The Ukrainian immigrants’ influx affected 54 (9.87%) participants in their decision of having their children vaccinated. Respondents in this group were more likely to have a positive attitude toward recommended vaccinations (p = 0.0428); in addition, they more often had their children vaccinated with recommended vaccinations (p = 0.0063), believed the vaccination coverage with mandatory vaccinations was higher in Poland than in Ukraine (p = 0.0014), and believed the incidence of diseases covered by mandatory (p = 0.0472) and recommended (p = 0.0097) vaccinations was higher in Ukraine. In addition, parents who declared that the migration had affected their decision regarding their children’s vaccinations had more often been vaccinated due to the influx of Ukrainian immigrants (p < 0.00001) and were more likely to be aware of how migration had impacted the current epidemiological situation in Poland (p = 0.0021). Moreover, the survey more often made these participants think about getting additional vaccinations for themselves (p < 0.0001) and their children (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The Ukrainian immigrants’ influx affected nearly one tenth of surveyed parents in their decision of having their children vaccinated. This group was more aware of the differences between infectious diseases’ epidemiology in Poland and Ukraine. In addition, they also had a more positive attitude toward vaccinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents)
14 pages, 1187 KiB  
Article
Epstein Barr Virus Hepatitis—A Mild Clinical Symptom or a Threat?
by Magdalena Rutkowska and Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak
Vaccines 2023, 11(6), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11061119 - 19 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4014
Abstract
The present study aimed to characterize pediatric patients diagnosed with hepatitis associated with primary Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. We described the changes in liver aminotransferases activity during the disease, and we analyzed the results of abdominal ultrasonography. A retrospective study was performed by [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to characterize pediatric patients diagnosed with hepatitis associated with primary Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. We described the changes in liver aminotransferases activity during the disease, and we analyzed the results of abdominal ultrasonography. A retrospective study was performed by analyzing the medical records of 166 immunocompetent children diagnosed with primary EBV hepatitis hospitalized at the Department of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, between August 2017 and March 2023. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was noted in the first three weeks of the disease. In 46.3% of patients, ALT values exceeded five times the upper limit of the laboratory norm in the first week of illness. Aspartate aminotransferase activity increased from the first to fourth week from the onset of symptoms and showed two peaks in the first and third weeks. The changes over time of mean AST activity demonstrated significance. Transient cholestatic liver disease was the predominant type of hepatic involvement in 10.8% of children; 66.6% of them were older than 15 years. Clinical and ultrasound criteria of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) were met in three female patients over 16 years of age. Hepatitis associated with primary EBV infection is usually a mild and self-limiting condition. Significantly elevated values of liver enzymes with features of cholestatic liver disease may occur in patients with a more severe course of the infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents)
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10 pages, 747 KiB  
Article
The First Assessments of Pediatric HBV Immunization Coverage in Mauritania and Persistence of Antibody Titers Post Infant Immunizations
by Hala El Hachimi, Mohamed Mahmoud Mohamed El Alem, Esma Haimoudane, Cheikh Yebouk, Jannie Pedersen, F-Zahra Fall-Malick, Fatimetou Khiddi, Mohamed Abdawe, Sidi Ahmed Sadegh, Hugues Fausther-Bovendo and Mohamed Vall Mohamed Abdellahi
Vaccines 2023, 11(3), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11030588 - 03 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1760
Abstract
Background: The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is used worldwide as an efficient tool to prevent the occurrence of chronic HBV infection and the subsequent liver disease. However, despite decades of vaccination campaigns, millions of new infections are still reported every year. Here, [...] Read more.
Background: The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is used worldwide as an efficient tool to prevent the occurrence of chronic HBV infection and the subsequent liver disease. However, despite decades of vaccination campaigns, millions of new infections are still reported every year. Here, we aimed to assess the nationwide HBV vaccination coverage in Mauritania as well as the presence of protective levels of the antibodies against HBV surface antigen (HBsAb) following vaccination in a sample of children immunized as infants. Methods: To evaluate the frequency of fully vaccinated and seroprotected children in Mauritania, a prospective serological study was conducted in the capital. First, we evaluated the pediatric HBV vaccine coverage in Mauritania between 2015 and 2020. Then, we examined the level of antibodies against HBV surface antigen (HBsAb) in 185 fully vaccinated children (aged 9 months to 12 years) by ELISA using the VIDAS hepatitis panel for Minividas (Biomerieux). These vaccinated children were sampled in 2014 or 2021. Results: In Mauritania, between 2016 and 2019, more than 85% of children received the complete HBV vaccine regimen. While 93% of immunized children between 0 and 23 months displayed HBsAb titer >10 IU/L, the frequency of children with similar titers decreased to 63, 58 and 29% in children aged between 24–47, 48–59 and 60–144 months, respectively. Conclusions: A marked reduction in the frequency of HBsAb titer was observed with time, indicating that HBsAb titer usefulness as marker of protection is short lived and prompting the need for more accurate biomarkers predictive of long-term protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents)
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Review

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16 pages, 757 KiB  
Review
The Shifting Epidemiology of Hepatitis A in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region
by Nina G. Gloriani, Sheriah Laine M. de Paz-Silava, Robert D. Allison, Yoshihiro Takashima and Tigran Avagyan
Vaccines 2024, 12(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12020204 - 16 Feb 2024
Viewed by 905
Abstract
Within the past few decades, improvement in sanitation and economic growth has driven a changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) of the World Health Organization (WHO). In this review, we gathered available published information on hepatitis A epidemiology [...] Read more.
Within the past few decades, improvement in sanitation and economic growth has driven a changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) of the World Health Organization (WHO). In this review, we gathered available published information on hepatitis A epidemiology of the countries in the WPR and reviewed the trends reported in the literature from the years 2000 to 2021. Many countries have shifted from high endemicity to low endemicity. Moreover, the administration of the hepatitis A vaccine among children in recent years has shifted disease susceptibility to the older population. Seroprevalence among children has decreased in most countries, while nearly 100% seropositivity is seen in mid adulthood. This is contrary to the epidemiology seen in previous decades when most children achieved immunity by age ten. This also presents a paradox in that better living conditions have caused more vulnerability to the older age groups who are at higher risk for severe disease. Given these trends, we recommend vaccination of vulnerable populations such as the older age groups and inclusion of the hepatitis A vaccine in government immunization programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents)
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21 pages, 898 KiB  
Review
Vaccine-Related Autoimmune Hepatitis: Emerging Association with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination or Coincidence?
by Ioannis P. Trontzas, Konstantinos G. Kyriakoulis, Ioannis A. Vathiotis, Alexandros Syrigos, Georgios Kounadis, Sofia Siasiakou and Garyphalia Poulakou
Vaccines 2022, 10(12), 2073; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10122073 - 04 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6205
Abstract
Background: There is an increasing number of liver injury cases resembling autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; however, an association has not yet been established. Methods/Materials: A literature review was performed to identify articles regarding the association of AIH with vaccination, emphasizing on [...] Read more.
Background: There is an increasing number of liver injury cases resembling autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; however, an association has not yet been established. Methods/Materials: A literature review was performed to identify articles regarding the association of AIH with vaccination, emphasizing on SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and the proposed mechanisms. We then performed a literature search for AIH-like cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, and we evaluated the included cases for AIH diagnosis using simplified diagnostic criteria (SDC), and for vaccination causality using the Naranjo score for adverse drug reactions. Results: We identified 51 AIH-like cases following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Forty cases (80%) were characterized as “probable”, “at least probable”, or “definite” for AIH diagnosis according to SDC. Forty cases (78.4%) were characterized as “probable”, four (7.8%) as “possible”, and three (5.8%) as “definite” for vaccine-related AIH according to the Naranjo score. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related AIH carries several phenotypes and, although most cases resolve, immunosuppressive therapy seems to be necessary. Early diagnosis is mandatory and should be considered in any patient with acute or chronic hepatitis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, especially in those with pre-existing liver disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue HBV and HCV Infection in Children and Adolescents)
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