Acute hepatic failure in pediatric H1N1 infection: a case report from Al-Adan Hospital, Kuwait

Abstract

Fawaz Al-RefaeeGastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Al-Adan Hospital, Kuwait City, KuwaitAbstract: Liver involvement in pediatric influenza A (H1N1) infection is rare. Focused clinical evaluation and laboratory tests can rule out or identify hepatic complications early on. Here we report on a 9-year-old boy treated by the Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Unit of Al-Adan Hospital’s Pediatric Department. The patient, who was infected with H1N1 during the 2010 pandemic, showed symptoms of associated acute hepatic failure, was managed conservatively, and recovered completely following treatment. The author would like to draw the attention of pediatricians to the hepatic aspect of human H1N1 infection in order for them to recognize it early and treat it in a timely manner.Keywords: influenza A (H1N1), infection, acute liver failure, children