Table 3. Cumulative adverse events among the 32 pediatric patients with CHB receiving IFN-α treatment.
| Type | n | Gradea | Treatment | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | 24 | 1 (n=22); 2 (n=2) | acetaminophen or no treatment | relief/spontaneous remission |
| Fatigue | 16 | 1 | none | self-relief |
| Nausea | 11 | 1 | none | self-relief |
| Alopecia | 8 | 1 | none | self-relief |
| Leukocytopenia | 6 | 1 | none | relief after discontinuation of IFN-α therapy |
| Headache | 3 | 1 | none | self-relief |
| Arthralgia | 2 | 1 | none | self-relief |
| Rash | 2 | 1 | none | self-relief |
| Thrombocytopenia | 1 | 1 | none | relief after discontinuation of IFN-α therapy |
| Hypothyroidism | 1 | 1 | none | relief after discontinuation of IFN-α therapy |
| Growth suppression | 1 | 1 | none | growth restoration 3–6 months after discontinuation of IFN-α therapy |
aGrading basis: Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v. 5.0 (Published Nov. 27, 2017 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). CHB, chronic hepatitis B; IFN-α, interferon-α.