Life-Threatening Gastrointestinal Bleeding in a Child with Acute Hepatitis A

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a common cause of acute viral hepatitis in children. Severe complications are rare but may occur, particularly in older children or in the presence of concomitant conditions. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of an 11-year-old girl with acute hepatitis A with severe hepatic derangements who developed life-threatening upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to a previously undiagnosed duodenal ulcer. Emergency endoscopy confirmed active bleeding from a duodenal ulcer, and the patient survived the complications with treatment with a proton pump inhibitor and hemostatic management with blood products. CONCLUSIONS: Although hepatitis A is generally benign in children, this case highlights the potential for severe and life-threatening complications.