Fulminant hepatitis E in an infant

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enterically transmitted infection that is typically self-limited. It spreads by fecally contaminated water within endemic areas. Hepatitis E infection occurs in both sporadic and epidemic forms in developing countries. HEV infection is usually subclinical in children but in a pregnant woman, it manifests commonly as fulminant hepatic failure. A few cases of acute liver failure caused primarily by HEV infection in children have been reported. We present a case of fulminant hepatitis E in a 1-year-old child. She showed positive signs of hepatic encephalopathy, jaundice, and coagulopathy and was given symptomatic treatment for the same. She recovered due to the self-limiting nature of HEV infection and prompt symptomatic relief.