Outbreak of mysterious hepatitis in children, what WHO says?

In early April, the UK reported an unexpected increase in cases Mysterious hepatitis in children with a severe acute condition of unknown etiology in young children. Before that, the children were all healthy, all under 10 years old.

Since then, strange cases of hepatitis continue to be recorded in 14 other countries including the US, Israel, the Netherlands, Romania, Japan, etc. The children are from 1 month to 16 years old. Currently, 17 children have had a liver transplant (accounting for 10% of the total number of cases), 1 death.

There are currently around 200 cases recorded worldwide, most of which are in the UK (more than 114 cases). The true number may be higher if the child does not have severe symptoms and therefore will not be taken to the hospital for examination.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to a range of health problems including cancer and liver failure, and can be fatal. The liver is important because it removes toxins from the blood, participates in metabolism and regulates blood clotting, among other functions.

A number of causes lead to hepatitis, but the most common is a virus, with hepatitis A, B, C, D and E being related strains. These viruses vary in how they are spread, geographically spread, symptoms (not everyone has symptoms), and severity, but all lead to hepatitis. Alcohol, certain medications, and immune system disorders can also cause hepatitis.

However, severe cases leading to liver failure are particularly rare in children, so it’s no wonder that UK clinicians are alarmed by the growing number of cases of unknown cause. So they have updated the information to WHO and other countries to be alert about this disease.

Currently, doctors have not detected common hepatitis viruses in these pediatric cases.

Associate Professor Asha Bowen, a clinician at Perth Children’s Hospital, Australia and an infectious diseases researcher at the Telethon Children’s Institute, said: “This is certainly unusual. The child has end-stage hepatitis. , the liver was completely damaged. That’s extremely rare in young children, so this mysterious illness puts us all on high alert.”

More information about the symptoms of the disease Mysterious hepatitis in children

Many children experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting shortly before being diagnosed. Many people also have jaundice, a condition that can make the skin and eyes appear yellow, possibly due to liver damage.

Several investigations are underway to find the potential cause of the mysterious hepatitis, but no confirmed information is available. Adenovirus has been detected in more than 70 children. In addition, 20 children were infected with Covid-19.

Countries have been advised to be on the lookout for any cases of hepatitis in children of unknown etiology. WHO recommends that blood, urine, stool and respiratory tract samples as well as liver biopsies be taken from these children.

The WHO added: “The causes of hepatitis should be thoroughly investigated.”