Doubts related to viruses spread through droplets
According to the latest report of the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around the world, the number of mysterious acute hepatitis cases in children has reached at least 228 cases in 20 countries. Among them, 4 deaths were recorded, 17 cases required liver transplantation.
Currently, the medical community is not sure what causes hepatitis, but they surmise it is related to adenovirus, a cold virus. However, previous studies have shown that despite its prevalence, adenoviruses do not usually cause hepatitis in healthy children.
“We’re still in the early days. It’s hard to predict whether this will become more common, or if it’s just a small dot of infectious diseases in 2022.” Dr. Richard Malley, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Boston, said.
Where did hepatitis cases appear?
In early April, the UK was the first country to notify WHO of cases of hepatitis of unknown cause in children. Cases are quite unusual, because they occur over a short period of time in otherwise healthy children.
According to the report by the Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the children did not share characteristics in terms of location, diet, history of chemical exposure or other risk factors.
After the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain and the US have reported similar cases.
There have been 3 child deaths in Indonesia related to mysterious hepatitis
In the US, the state of Alabama recorded 9 cases from October last year to February this year. Three of those cases required liver transplants, according to the CDC. The agency noted that the children have either recovered or are recovering.
“The two transplant recipients are recovering well,” said Dr. Henry Shiau, a pediatric liver transplant physician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Alabama Children’s Hospital.
Soon after, the CDC issued a nationwide alert, asking health care providers to investigate cases.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia recorded 3 deaths related to this disease. In Vietnam, there are currently no cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children.
Theory about the origin of mysterious hepatitis
With the recent series of hepatitis cases, scientists are working on the hypothesis that it is caused by an adenovirus, which is common from spring to autumn.
Notably, none of the viruses that cause hepatitis A, B, C, and E were found among children with acute hepatitis during this outbreak. Instead, doctors found an adenovirus, type 41, which accounts for about half of all acute hepatitis in children globally.
Similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, adenovirus is spread by respiratory droplets, by close contact, and by contact with surfaces contaminated with droplets from a positive person.
Suspected mysterious hepatitis caused by adenovirus 41
More than 50 types of adenovirus can infect humans. The most common types can cause respiratory illness. But some types can also cause intestinal symptoms, which has become a topic of scientific interest in recent cases of acute hepatitis in children.
“The real link between adenovirus and severe acute hepatitis in children is currently under investigation. In the past, adenovirus 41 has caused hepatitis in immunocompromised children. However, doctors have not have seen hepatitis caused by adenovirus 41 in healthy children.As research continues, scientists will learn other health problems that could be the cause, including previous COVID infections. “, BS. Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, an instructor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of the hepatology program at Children’s Medical Center in Plano, Texas.
More than 50 types of adenovirus can infect humans. The most common types can cause respiratory illness. But some types can also cause intestinal symptoms, which has become a topic of scientific interest in recent cases of acute hepatitis in children.
“The real link between adenovirus and severe acute hepatitis in children is currently under investigation. In the past, adenovirus 41 has caused hepatitis in immunocompromised children. However, doctors have not have seen hepatitis caused by adenovirus 41 in healthy children.As research continues, scientists will learn other health problems that could be the cause, including previous COVID infections. “, BS. Norberto Rodriguez-Baez, an instructor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and director of the hepatology program at Children’s Medical Center in Plano, Texas.
Symptoms of hepatitis cases
In many cases, children develop gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. The children also had abnormally high levels of liver enzymes, a sign of inflammation or liver damage.
Dr. Henry Shiau, a pediatric liver transplant doctor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Alabama Children’s Hospital, said gastrointestinal symptoms are fairly common in children. Parents do not need to worry if their children only have these problems. However, yellowing of the skin and eyes is a characteristic sign that children have hepatitis.
The link between Covid-19 and mysterious hepatitis in children has not been discovered
“The chance of a child developing hepatitis is still extremely low. However, parents should be alert to the typical, most noticeable symptom, which is yellow inside the whites of the eyes. Contact your doctor immediately. if you’re worried”said Dr Meera Chand, Clinical Director of Emerging Infections at UKHSA.
Is hepatitis related to Covid-19?
According to expert Rodriguez-Baez, in the US, no cases of COVID-19 have been detected among children with acute hepatitis.
A few pediatric patients in the UK have contracted COVID-19, but there is no real link between the virus and acute hepatitis.
These cases are also unrelated to the vaccine, because children under the age of 5 have never been vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine. However, experts do not rule out the possibility that hepatitis is a post-pandemic complication indirectly. Because of social distancing over the past two years, many children have not been exposed to common cold viruses, making them more susceptible.
Source: WebMD; NY Times
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