NASH IN CHILDREN – A SHORT REVIEW

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) describes a hepatic disorder with the typical characteristics of an alcoholic liver disease without alcohol consumption. NAFLD is the most common metabolic paediatric liver disease. Prevalence of NAFLD is high in the Western hemisphere. Most of the data on paedriatic NAFLD originates from the West. Most of the patients with NAFLD are asymptomatic, and the disease is detected incidentally. The natural history of pediatric nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has yet to be defined, but most of the biopsies in this age group demonstrate some degree of fibrosis. Distinct histological patterns of NASH have been identified in the pediatric population. While the optimal treatment of pediatric NAFLD has yet to be determined, lifestyle modification through diet and exercise should be attempted.