New discovery on the cause of mysterious hepatitis in a series of children

This is research information from a team of experts from Imperial College London.

Recent cases of acute hepatitis in children may be the result of infection with the original coronavirus, followed by an adenovirus infection, according to new research published in The Lancet. This condition forms a reservoir for the virus in the child’s intestinal tract.

These two viruses resonate and activate immune cells over and over again. In other words, the viral reservoir “interferes” with the immune system’s response signals, forming repetitive superantigens and causing an overreaction in the body.

Adenovirus further exacerbates inflammation, leading to immune system abnormalities such as the recently reported acute hepatitis.