Halothane hepatitis in children.

It is often stated that halothane hepatitis in children is nonexistent or extremely rare. This syndrome occurred in seven children aged between 11 months and 15 years, one of whom, a 3 1/2 year old boy, died with fulminant hepatic failure. All the children had received multiple halothane anaesthetics (range 2-6, median 3). In all cases other causes of liver diseases were excluded, and in all but one the diagnosis was confirmed serologically by antibodies to halothane altered liver cell membrane antigens. These findings suggest that halothane hepatitis occurs in children, and the risk of halothane hepatitis should therefore be considered when choosing which agents to use in children who require multiple anaesthetics.     

Halothane hepatitis

This report describes five cases of hepatocellular injury following halothane anesthesia. Four patients had multiple exposures to the anesthetic. Three of the five died from submassive to massive liver cell necrosis. The two survivors developed jaundice and/or dark urine following each exposure to halothane; liver biopsy in one showed centrilobular and linear areas of necrosis. Fever, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice were present in all cases. In the two survivors the prothrombin time was less than 20 seconds throughout the course of the disease, whereas in the three who died the prothrombin time was more than 20 seconds from the onset. The English literature to the end of 1971 is reviewed. Approximately 600 cases of halothane-related hepatitis have been reported