Risk factors for longer hospital stay in children with hepatitis A infections

Objective: We evaluated the risk factors for longer hospitalization with hepatitis A virus infection. Methods: Pediatric patients younger than 18 years of age admitted between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2014 with the serological diagnosis of hepatitis A were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Of 133 patients, 41.4% were female and 58.6% were male. The median age of the patients was 8.0 years (range, 6 months - 15 years). The median hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1-29 days). There was no statistically significant difference between the children with prolonged and shorter hospital stay regarding the presence of high ALT and AST levels, leukopenia or leukocytosis, fever, prolonged coagulation time, intravenous fluid, and vitamin K administration or poor oral intake (p>0.05). The frequency of thrombocytopenia in children with prolonged hospital stay was significantly higher compared to the children with shorter stay (p=0.013). In terms of atypical course, two patients had fulminant hepatitis, one had cholestatic hepatitis. Conclusion: Thrombocytopenia at the presentation of HAV infections in children may be the predictor for longer hospital stay.