WHO attempts to decipher the mysterious hepatitis in children in 12 countries

WHO confirmed, one child died after increasing the number of cases acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children. At least 169 cases of the disease have been recorded in 12 countries.

Ms. Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the UK Health Security Agency, said, 5 cases mysterious hepatitis The first was recorded in Scotland (United Kingdom) on March 31, when “sensitive clinicians detected abnormalities”.

According to Chand, such cases of hepatitis of unknown cause are very rare. On average, Scottish doctors only see 4-5 cases of hepatitis every year of unknown cause.

However, according to a WHO report over the weekend, the UK has so far recorded a total of 114 cases of mysterious hepatitis. Spain has the second highest number of mysterious hepatitis cases in children (after the UK) with 13 cases, followed by Israel 12 and the US 9.

Lower numbers of mysterious hepatitis cases were also reported in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, France, Romania and Belgium.

The majority of cases of this mysterious hepatitis are children under 10 years old. Most children were healthy before the disease, while hepatitis is very rare in healthy children.

At least 169 cases of rare hepatitis have been reported in 12 countries. (Photo: Independent.ie)

Before showing signs of severe hepatitis, pediatric patients often present with symptoms including jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Maria Buti, president of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), said the “big concern” was the severity of the disease. Already, 17 pediatric patients (about 10% of confirmed cases) have hepatitis so severe that a liver transplant is needed.

WHO has ruled out international travel as a factor in mysterious hepatitis. According to Ms. Chand, there is no research to show a link between paracetamol use and disease, even though an overdose of this active ingredient can also cause liver failure. Experts also do not think that the COVID-19 vaccine causes this situation because most children with mysterious hepatitis are not eligible for vaccination.

WHO has detected the virus that causes the common cold, known as adenovirus, in at least 74 cases of hepatitis. The number of cases of hepatitis related to COVID-19 is 20 cases and there are 19 cases of simultaneous infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus and adenovirus.

Meanwhile, US health officials have issued a nationwide alert, advising doctors to watch out for the symptoms of the disease. hepatitis in children may be related to cold viruses. Currently, US health authorities are opening a nationwide study of severe cases of hepatitis of unknown cause in young children.

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