Pediatric knowledge about acute viral hepatitis



Document title: Pediatric knowledge about acute viral hepatitis
Journal: The brazilian journal of infectious diseases
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000290819
ISSN: 1413-8670
Authors: 1


2
3


4
Institutions: 1Universidade Federal da Bahia, Divisao de Gastroenterologia Pediatrica e Hepatologia, Salvador, Bahia. Brasil
2Universidade Federal da Bahia, Departamento de Pediatria, Salvador, Bahia. Brasil
3Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, Bahia. Brasil
4Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Odontologia, Salvador, Bahia. Brasil
Year:
Season: Jun
Volumen: 8
Number: 3
Pages: 361-366
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Caso clínico
English abstract Knowledge about hepatotropic viruses is crucial for pediatricians because of the high prevalence of viral hepatitis during childhood. The multiplicity of hepatotropic viruses, the spectrum of acute and chronic infections, and the sequels of viral hepatitis result in a need for physicians to better understand the clinical and epidemiological context of patients with viral hepatitis, as well as the importance of prevention measures for hepatitis. A descriptive cross-sectional study was made of pediatrician's knowledge about viral hepatitis, through questionnaires to 574 pediatricians, with no obligation of identification. The pediatricians were recruited among those who attended a national Congress of Pediatrics in Brasília, Brazil. Among these pediatricians, 50.1% frequently treated cases of hepatitis, and 74.7% indicated that they had knowledge of the existence of five hepatotropic viruses; 14.5% knew about at least four types of hepatitis complications, while only 7.7% and 4.3% were able to correctly diagnose viral hepatitis A and B, respectively. Many (28.4%) did not know how to treat the patients adequately. Only 37.5% had already recommended vaccination against hepatitis B. Only 50.2% of the pediatricians had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. We concluded that it is crucial to make pediatricians more knowledgeable about viral hepatitis, through continued education programs, especially emphasizing prevention procedures
Disciplines: Biología,
Medicina
Keyword: Virus,
Diagnóstico,
Pediatría,
Salud pública,
Hepatitis viral aguda,
Niños
Keyword: Biology,
Medicine,
Virus,
Diagnosis,
Pediatrics,
Public health,
Acute viral hepatitis,
Children
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