ABSTRACT
Acute hepatitis causes not only pathological ultrasound changes in the liver, but also affects other abdominal organs. This study was carried out to detect ultrasonic changes in the abdominal organs and hepatic vessels in cases of acute hepatitis in children and determine the chronology of these changes. 143 pediatric patients with clinical picture and laboratory findings of acute hepatitis were prospectively examined by gray scale and Duplex Doppler ultrasound early at the start of the disease and every 6 weeks for 6 months. Eighty seven age and sex matched normal children were also examined as a control group. Enlarged lymph nodes in hepatic hilum was the most common finding, it affected 97.9% of cases in the first examination and did not disappear for 12 weeks; 30% of cases showed its presence at 6 months but with decreasing size. Hepatomegaly was found in 84.6% of cases in the first examination, but returned to normal size by 12 weeks. Increase in liver echogenicity was found in 50.4% of the cases in the first examination, in 39% after 6 weeks and disappeared by 18 weeks. Hypoechoic liver was found in 20.3% at the start of the disease and disappeared by 6 weeks. Splenomegaly was detected in 33% of cases at the start of the disease, in 3.6% at 6 week visit and disappeared by 3 months. Thickened gallbladder wall was present in 25.2%, hepatic veins biphasic waveform in 19.3% and ascites in 2.1% of cases at the start of the disease, all were very transient and not detected by 6 weeks. Lymph node enlargement in porta hepatis was the most prevalent and persistent finding in children with acute viral hepatitis. Other organ affection detected by abdominal ultrasonography [gray scale and duplex Doppler] in those children disappeared by 6 to 24 weeks