Concurrent reactivation of latent EBV with hepatitis A can affect clinical feature of childhood hepatitis

Aims: Some children with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection have concurrent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) reactivation serologically. We studied the frequency of EBV reactivation during HAV infection and determined whether simultaneous occurrence of EBV reactivation and HAV infection affected the clinical features of HAV infection. Methods: The medical records of patients under 19 years of age diagnosed with acute hepatitis A between January 1996 and June 2009 were reviewed. Results: Among 72 patients with acute hepatitis A, 22 patients (30.6%) had EBV reactivation. A markedly prolonged duration of full recovery from hepatitis was observed in reactivated group. The peak levels of AST and ALT in reactivated group were higher than non‐reactivated group (p = 0.012 and p