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Liver disease
Viral infections
A number of viruses can affect the liver and cause either acute self-limiting liver disease called acute viral hepatitis or chronic disease of variable severity called chronic viral hepatitis. Common viral infections of the liver are:
Hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus is spread via the hands of infected people, especially when preparing food, or by contaminated food. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A as it is generally a mild disease and nearly all children recover completely without any lasting effects. The infection is not very common in developed countries. An effective vaccine is available and before visiting Asia, Africa or Southern America immunisation against the virus is recommended.
Hepatitis B and C
Hepatitis B and C are serious viral diseases which affect the liver and are blood borne. Both viruses may cause acute illness. However, in the majority of children these viruses become chronic with liver damage only becoming apparent in adulthood. The common way of spreading or acquiring the infection are babies born to hepatitis B or C positive mothers, sharing of toothbrushes or razors amongst family members, or intravenous drug abuse. Current treatments of both viruses are not very successful but research is underway into more effective medicines.
There is an effective vaccine available for hepatitis B, but unfortunately in the UK it is only available for those at high risk unlike the rest of the developed world where this vaccine is part of the universal immunisation programme. However, all pregnant women are now routinely offered a test for hepatitis B.
Tyrosinaemia type i
| Neonatal conditions 
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