US CDC Guidelines for Mysterious Hepatitis in Children

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently working with state health departments across the country to identify children with acute hepatitis of unknown cause. Medical experts are also investigating the possibility of a link between this mysterious hepatitis and adenovirus type 41.

In October 2021, in the state of Alabama, there were 5 children hospitalized due to mysterious hepatitis. Some children have liver failure of unknown cause. All five children tested negative for hepatitis A, B, and C, while they tested positive for adenovirus, a common virus that causes flu-like symptoms, colds, and stomach or digestive problems. .

After that, the hospital received 4 more cases, all with hepatitis and adenovirus infection.

It is noteworthy that all these children were previously very healthy, aged 1-6 years at the time of admission. Children come from all over the state. No common source of infection or exposure was found in these children. None of the children had a previous medical condition. At present, the health of all these children has recovered.

Children in other states with similar mysterious hepatitis are also being investigated.

Among the mysterious cases of hepatitis reported in many other countries, some pediatric patients infected with adenovirus were found in the UK and Europe. Medical experts are investigating other causes and identifying some more factors that may have caused the mysterious hepatitis.

1. What is known about the mysterious hepatitis in children

Laboratory testing identified some children with adenovirus type 41, which commonly causes severe abdominal pain in children.

Previously reported cases of hepatitis in immunosuppressed children with adenovirus infection, adenovirus type 41 is not a common cause of hepatitis in otherwise healthy children.

Hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses have been considered, but no evidence of infection with these viruses was found in these pediatric patients. Excluded causes for children with occult hepatitis in Alabama include:

– The virus that causes the disease COVID-19

– Bacteria

– Urinary tract infections

– Autoimmune hepatitis

– Wilson’s disease

2. Unknown things about mysterious hepatitis in children

The cause to the illness: At this time, the cause of mysterious hepatitis in children is still unknown. While some children have been infected with adenovirus, it is not known if adenovirus is the cause of the mysterious hepatitis.

The role of other factors in the disease, such as exposure to toxins or other infections, is unknown at this time, and the role of other factors is being investigated.

Prevalence (number of cases)

It is not yet clear whether the number of hepatitis cases in children has increased, or if there has been an improvement in case detection.

3. What the US CDC is doing to prevent mysterious hepatitis in children

Investigation of the disease

CDC is working with states and local health departments to see if there are more children with mysterious hepatitis, as well as to find out what causes the disease. At the same time, the CDC believes that adenovirus may be the cause of some cases, but further investigation and verification of factors contributing to the mysterious hepatitis is still needed.

Although rare, children can get hepatitis, and the cause is not always found. To understand more about potential causes, epidemiological investigators work with states and local health departments to study the medical records of children who have had hepatitis in the past.

US CDC is examining national data sources looking at trends in childhood hepatitis (including disease requiring liver transplantation) as well as adenovirus infections over the past few years, including before the pandemic. COVID-19.

CDC and local public health officials will continue to work closely with health care facilities to detect unusual patterns or outbreaks of hepatitis in children. As soon as the clues are found, instructions will be quickly given to prevent the disease.

Test

The US CDC is asking healthcare providers to consider testing for adenovirus in pediatric patients with hepatitis of unknown origin and reporting hepatitis cases to local or national health authorities. CDC also works with labs across the United States to develop best testing practices.

4. What parents can do to protect their children from the risk of mysterious hepatitis

If in doubt, parents should consult a medical facility. Things parents can do to protect their children from mysterious hepatitis:

Identify symptoms of hepatitis, including:

– Fever

– Tired

– Loss of appetite

– Nausea

– Vomit

– Stomachache

– Dark urine

– Light colored stools

– Athritis

– Jaundice

Updating vaccination against infectious diseases for young children

Help children maintain hygiene and prevent diseases by:

– Wash your hands often

– Avoid close contact with sick people

– Cover your hands when coughing and sneezing

Teach children to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.