Analysis of common causes of liver damage among children 12 years and younger in Weifang

AIMS: To explore the causes of liver damage among children 12 years and younger in Weifang and to provide a theoretical basis for early diagnosis of liver damage in children. METHODS: Retrospective study of clinical data from pediatric patients (age ≤12 years) with liver damage in diagnosed at Weifang People's Hospital from June 2010 to May 2020. RESULTS: A total of 2632 children (1572 boys, 1060 girls) aged ≤12 years were diagnosed with liver damage including infectious liver damage (2100 cases), non-infectious liver damage (446 cases) and liver damage of unknown etiology (86 cases). The most common causes of infectious liver damage were viral infection (1515 cases), Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection (343 cases), and bacterial infection (197 cases). The most common causes of viral liver damage were Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and enterovirus. The most common causes of non-infectious liver damage were drug-induced liver damage, Kawasaki disease, and genetic metabolic diseases. There were 31 cases of severe liver damage. CONCLUSION: There were many causes of liver damage among children in Weifang. Infections, and especially viral infections such as Epstein–Barr virus, were the most common causes of liver damage. Severe liver damage was primarily caused by drugs or poisons.