High prevalence of gallbladder involvement during hepatitis: An outbreak in a paediatric population

Acute hepatitis A (AHA) in children usually has generally benign course. In literature, there are several descriptions of gallbladder involvement in AHA, but there are few data on the pediatric population. Fifteen children living in a Romani camp or in the neighbourhoods with AHA were admitted. 57% of children who underwent abdomen ultrasounds showed a significant gallbladder involvement and none of the patients required further diagnostic exams or surgical evaluation. This high frequency of gallbladder involvement is not usually described in pediatric AHA. Furthermore, this is the first Italian AHA outbreak in Romani children population reported in medical literature.   Key words: Gallbladder wall thickening, children, hepatitis A, outbreak, Romani population.