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Epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Sudanese children. Dr. Omaima M. Sabir Pediatric Gastroenterologist Khartoum, Sudan. Introduction. Chronic liver diseases in Sudanese children are significant problem. The etiology of which have never been determined before. Objectives.
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Epidemiology of chronic liver disease in Sudanese children Dr. Omaima M. Sabir Pediatric Gastroenterologist Khartoum, Sudan
Introduction • Chronic liver diseases in Sudanese children are significant problem. • The etiology of which have never been determined before.
Objectives • To determine the pattern of and the histological features of chronic liver diseases at Gaafer Ibn Auf Specialized children hospital in Khartoum over the last 3 years.
Methodology • Prospective study of all children under 15 years of age who underwent liver biopsies for : • Prolonged jaundiced for > 6 weeks. • Hepatomegaly. • Persistent abnormal LFT. • Portal hypertension.
Methodology/2 • Clinical and laboratory data were received. • All liver biopsies slides were received by two histopathologists and the author to confirm the diagnosis. • All the biopsies were taken by U/S guidance technique using either true cut or suction needle according to the age and the clinical status of the child.
Results • 315 children were biopsied.
Discussion • In infancy still neonatal hepatitis is the commonest pathology in our country, congenital hepatitis still encountered for the majority followed by sepsis. • Billiary atresia is found to be high incidence compared to the developed country and usually presented quite late. • Relevant high incidence of familiar hepatic disease due to consanguinity who they don’t usually survive into older age.
Discussion/2 • Fatty liver diseases compose of the majority of findings in the age group 1 – 5 years followed by viral and infectious hepatitis, which can be explained by malnutrition and endemicity of hepatitis B and C. • Metabolic and hereditary liver diseases are obvious coming to small percentage could explain the natural survival. • The astonishing findings of high incidence of liver cirrhosis in age group 5 – 15 years lead to the question.
Discussion/3 • ? Fatty liver is not as innocent as we thought. • ? Presence of specific type of childhood cirrhosis in our country. • The impact of hepatitis B infection in our children. • Periportal portal fibrosis surprisingly was not as high as one expected, but that could be mainly because we diagnose by sonography or it has been looked after by our adult colleague. • Micronodular and mixed cirrhosis were the main types of cirrhosis which are identified.
Conclusion • Liver diseases have a major impact among our children. • Late referral of prolonged neonatal jaundice. • The possibility of specific type of childhood cirrhosis in Sudan. • High incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Sudanese children.