Introduction:
Acute Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) infection is common in the developing countries among children, but hydrops of gallbladder due to hepatitis A infection is an uncommon presentation.
Case presentation:
A five-year-old boy was admitted in Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran due to jaundice and severe abdominal pain for 10 days. Physical examination revealed a mass in the right upper quadrant with severe tenderness. Liver function tests were abnormal while other laboratory data such as blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, sodium, and potassium were within the normal range. Blood and urine cultures were negative. Abdominal ultrasonography showed that the gallbladder was very much distended and its fundus was near the iliac crest. Hydrops of the gallbladder was diagnosed. HAV IgM titer was high. After five days, without any specific treatment, his symptoms improved and he was discharged with good condition.
Conclusions:
Acute acalculous gallbladder disease is a rare complication of HAV infection which should be suspected in any child with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, tenderness, and mass which can lead to surgical emergency in rare conditions.