WHO reports at least 169 children in 11 countries have been identified with acute hepatitis, including one fatal case related to this mysterious illness.
According to CNN, in a press release dated May 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that a total of 17 children have undergone liver transplants, with one death reported. The affected children range from one month to 16 years old.
“It is still unclear whether the number of hepatitis cases will increase in the near future. Adenovirus is one hypothesis, but we are still investigating to find the causative agent,” WHO added.
WHO warns health officials in countries to exercise caution when investigating the causes of this illness.
The WHO announcement also indicated that the clinical syndrome among the identified cases of acute hepatitis shows elevated liver enzymes. Many cases reported gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting “before presenting with severe acute hepatitis” and increased levels of liver enzymes or alanine aminotransferase, along with jaundice.
Additionally, most reported cases did not have fever or infections from common viruses that cause hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E.
Notably, WHO warns that health officials in countries need to be cautious when investigating the causes of this illness, as there is a high possibility of a new adenovirus strain or co-infection with SARS-CoV-2.
The majority of reported cases are in the United Kingdom (114 cases). According to WHO, Spain has also reported 13 affected children, Israel has 12 cases, 9 children in the United States, and a few scattered cases in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, France, Romania, and Belgium.
On April 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States advised healthcare organizations to test for adenovirus in children with hepatitis of unknown origin. Additionally, children should undergo comprehensive blood tests, not just plasma tests. The agency noted that “the potential link between hepatitis in children and adenovirus infection is under investigation.”
In a recent health advisory, the CDC requested healthcare providers or state public health agencies to report any children under 10 years old diagnosed with hepatitis of unknown origin since October 2021.
Hepatitis is a condition in which the body’s excretory organ is damaged, affecting the processing of nutrients, blood filtration, and the ability to fight infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, liver function may be compromised.
Typically, hepatitis is caused by viruses. Adenovirus, on the other hand, is a common virus that spreads from person to person and can cause a range of illnesses from mild to more severe. However, these viruses rarely cause hepatitis.
