Hepatitis A presenting as bilateral pleural effusion in two pediatric patients

Abstract

Hepatitis A is a common disease with benign and self-limiting outcome; however, very rarely it is associated with pleural effusion. We present two cases, one 6-year-old girl and another 4-year-old boy, both of whom presented with bilateral pleural effusion associated with hepatitis A. Both children were managed according to protocols for hepatitis A, following which, the pleural effusion resolved spontaneously. Pleural effusion in hepatitis A is benign and self-limiting. It does not need any separate test or treatment.