[Treatment of viral hepatitis in children]. / Terapija virusnog hepatitisa u djece.

The goal of treating children with chronic hepatitis B is the prevention of complications rather than the urgency of stopping the disease. Candidates for treatment are HBV DNA and HBeAg positive children, older than 2 years, with elevated transaminases for at least 6 months and histologic evidence for chronic hepatitis. Treatment can be carried out with interferon alfa or lamivudine, however, interferon is preferred for higher efficacy. The combined therapy has been currently studied. No consensus has yet been attained on the necessity to treat chronic hepatitis C in children. Candidates for treatment are HCV RNA positive children, older than 3 years, having persistently elevated transaminases, with histologic evidence for chronic hepatitis and significant fibrosis. Until recently, treatment was carried out with interferon alfa, but now, due to better results, a combined therapy with interferon alfa and ribavirin is recommended. New controlled trials are expected as a basis for general recommendations.