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Acute hepatitis

Case contributed by Omar M. Sultan

Presentation

Jaundice, fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and vomiting.

Patient Data

Age: 7 years
Gender: Male
ultrasound

The liver is mildly enlarged and there is with coarse echotexture.

Marked diffuse gallbladder wall thickening (edematous wall) with associated little amount of pericholecystic fluid

Case Discussion

The diagnosis of acute hepatitis is usually made on a clinical and laboratory basis.

Ultrasound as a non-invasive imaging modality is requested immediately after laboratory investigation and can shows changes which are nonspecific but can aid in diagnostic confidence.

Hepatomegaly is a sensitive sign, but normal size liver cannot exclude hepatitis.

Diffuse gallbladder wall thickening due to edema, as well as pericholecystic fluid especially in the pediatric age group, can be considered as a specific sign for hepatitis whatever the cause.

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