WHO calls for investigation of hepatitis cases of unknown cause in children

On April 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) said it had recorded about 170 cases of severe hepatitis in 16 countries, up from 74 cases in the UK two weeks ago. 10% of cases above require a liver transplant. In the US, the Wisconsin State Health Service said it was investigating the death of a pediatric patient.

WHO urges health authorities globally to report and investigate any cases of hepatitis of unknown cause in healthy children. Patients range in age from 1 month to 16 years, most severe cases tend to be in children under 10 years of age.

People often assume that hepatitis is caused by a virus. But this condition can be caused by hundreds of other causes such as medications, toxins, contaminated food, etc.

But currently, experts have not found common causes in new cases of hepatitis in children.

Richard Pebody, head of the WHO European High Threat Pathogens group, said: “These children were previously healthy. This is an unusual phenomenon when hepatitis leading to liver failure is common in children with underlying medical conditions.”

That is not to say, healthy children have never had severe hepatitis of unknown cause or needed a liver transplant. Last year, more than 500 children in the US received liver transplants, most of them under the age of 6.

In this episode, however, hepatitis cases occurred over a relatively short period of time and the cause was unclear.

No link has been identified between hepatitis cases worldwide and Covid-19 or the vaccine, officials said.

Some children with hepatitis are diagnosed with Covid-19 but not all. Most children have not been vaccinated because they are young.

One virus was evaluated as a potential culprit: Adenovirus type 41, which causes respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Although unusual, this virus can cause severe hepatitis in children with weakened immune systems.

Five out of nine healthy children with hepatitis in Alabama (USA) tested positive for adenovirus type 41. Four other children also tested positive for the virus, but doctors were unable to determine the specific type. body.

An Yen (According to NBC)