Hepatitis outbreak

Seventeen kids have needed a liver transplant, and one child has died of liver failure.

Because of the number of cases and the severity of the disease in children, scientists are urgently investigating the cause of the outbreak. However, none of the cases reported in the UK had received a COVID vaccine and the COVID vaccines that do use adenoviruses use an unrelated virus that cannot multiply. Sampling the population (both adults and children) to get an idea of how prevalent adenovirus 41 is in these reporting areas versus other areas of low to no incidence would help firm up the link. Early in the outbreak, epidemiologists sought to identify contact links with these cases and, of course, to identify what the cause of the viral hepatitis was. Subtype 41 belongs to the adenovirus clustering that is typically associated with mild-to-moderate gastroenteritis; essentially a stomach bug with symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. A recent spate of severe liver inflammation (hepatitis) has been reported in previously healthy children.

The CDC published its most detailed findings so far about nine children in Alabama who developed severe hepatitis, after issuing a health alert last week.

The children all tested negative for hepatitis viruses A, B and C, according to the CDC. None of them had a history of Covid-19 infection. Eight of the patients had scleral icterus, a yellowing of the white of the eye. The public health agency told physicians to be aware that whole blood tests, rather than plasma, might be better at detecting the presence of adenovirus. All of the children tested positive for adenovirus, a common infection that can cause respiratory illnesses, an upset stomach, pink eye and bladder inflammation or neurological disease in rarer cases. The WHO has identified 169 cases worldwide so far, with the overwhelming majority of them in the U.K. "At this time, we believe adenovirus may be the cause for these reported cases, but other potential environmental and situational factors are still being investigated," the CDC said in a statement.

If the Wisconsin cases are indeed connected to the larger outbreak, the illness will have resulted in the deaths of at least two children and left many mor.

With these new cases under investigation, Wisconsin joins at least seven US states that have seen outbreaks of unexplained hepatitis in children. Usually, this virus is little more than a tummy bug in children and isn’t commonly associated with hepatitis at all, so the fact that more than three-quarters of UK cases tested positive for the strain is something that raises its own questions. If the Wisconsin cases are indeed connected to the larger outbreak, the illness will have resulted in the deaths of at least two children and left many more with severe outcomes rarely seen in healthy kids.

The increase in infections comes after the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported around 190 unexplained cases of severe hepatitis in ...

According to the World Health Organization, 17 children have needed liver transplants as a result of the recent cases, and one has died. The agency said 10 children had received liver transplants but none had died. The UK Health Security Agency has identified 34 confirmed hepatitis cases in children since Monday, bringing the total number to 145 amid a series of unexplained cases among children around the world.

Concerns rise about surge as scientists say lack of exposure to viruses during Covid restrictions could be factor.

The UK has centralised liver treatment centres, meaning that milder cases could be picked up quickly. Scientists believe there could be a link to adenovirus infection, which has been detected in the majority of cases, but are continuing to investigate the cause. “They also had a surge in hepatitis, which is fascinating,” Kelly said.

Countries with reported cases as of 21 April (more cases have been reported since). Image credits: World Health Organization (WHO). Contents. 1 When and why ...

Of course, this doesn’t yet rule out the possibility of a yet-unknown pathogen being responsible for the surge in cases. Most kids have recovered from the disease, but doctors are still shocked by how severe this hepatitis appears to be. According to preliminary surveys, many of the children suffering from this unusual type of hepatitis test positive for adenovirus 41, which can cause gastroenteritis, especially in children. So instead, the UK Health Security Agency said it believes there may be a cofactor increasing the severity of the cases. Over 200 cases of hepatitis in children have been reported around the world. “Normally a paediatric haematologist in, say, Birmingham, at one of the big UK centres, might see one or two cases a month.

Dr. Emma Mohr, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with UW Health Kids calls hepatitis a broad medical term. "It means inflammation of the liver. And ...

"But I don’t think that those new numbers will really reflect the new cases that are happening immediately. That’s why it is our job to really report all the cases," Mohr said. Virus infections are one of the things that can cause hepatitis.

At least four children in Wisconsin, including one who died and one who required a liver transplant, have come down with mysterious hepatitis cases.

The symptoms to watch out for in severe hepatitis cases include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the upper abdomen and yellowness of the skin or eyes, DeMuri said. ♦ Another factor affecting some children that is rendering normal adenovirus infections more severe, or causing them to trigger an inappropriate immune response. So far close to 200 cases — 114 of them in the United Kingdom — have been reported. Adenoviruses are one cause of the common cold. DeMuri recommended that parents make decisions about whether to have their children wear masks based on COVID-19 numbers in their community and not on the small number of hepatitis cases linked to Adenovirus 41. At least four children in Wisconsin, including one who died and one who required a liver transplant, have come down with mysterious hepatitis cases that appear to be part of a worldwide outbreak linked to an adenovirus.

Four children in Wisconsin have come down with mysterious hepatitis cases. There's estimated to be a total of 19 cases in the U.S. and 200 worldwide.

The symptoms to watch out for in severe hepatitis cases include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the upper abdomen and yellowness of the skin or eyes, DeMuri said. - Another factor affecting some children that is rendering normal adenovirus infections more severe, or causing them to trigger an inappropriate immune response. So far close to 200 cases – 114 of them in the United Kingdom – have been reported. Adenoviruses are one cause of the common cold. A CDC report Friday on the Alabama cases said none had compromised immune systems or tested positive for Hepatitis Viruses A, B or C. The CDC said the children's medical records did not indicate that any had been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. While all the children in Alabama survived, three developed acute liver failure and two required liver transplants. DeMuri recommended that parents make decisions about whether to have their children wear masks based on COVID-19 numbers in their community and not on the small number of hepatitis cases linked to Adenovirus 41.

MOH said that it had been notified on Friday of a case of acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, in the infant. The case had presented at KK Women's and ...

The symptoms of hepatitis include: Normal hygiene measures such as handwashing and good respiratory hygiene help to reduce spread of many common infections, including adenovirus infection. Hepatitis can be caused by viral infections, alcohol use, toxins, medications, and certain medical conditions.