Health authorities of some countries investigate mysterious cases of severe liver disease in children. It is believed that they can be associated with a virus, which normally causes an ordinary cold. The World Health Organization said on Friday, April 15, that the United Kingdom investigates at least 74 cases of infection of children with hepatitis of unclear origin, which is accompanied by inflammation of the liver. Russian news written about it
WHO also reported that three such cases are investigated in Spain and at least four – in Ireland.
At the same time, US health officials say that there are already nine such cases investigate. All of them are registered in Alabama, and now the authorities are checked if there are information about similar diseases in other states. Children from 1 to 6 years have gotting ill in the United States, and the liver transplant was required. WHO representatives noted that some of the victims in Europe were older, but most were in the same age range.
For the first time in WHO reported unusual diseases in early April 2022. Then it became known about 10 children in Scotland, hospitalized with liver problems. One fell ill in January, nine others – in March. After they were hospitalized, hepatitis had been diagnosed. Children had such common symptoms like jaundice, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Laboratory studies excluded hepatitis A, B, C and E viruses, which usually cause such diseases. Officials say they do not know anything about international trips or other factors that could expose children at risk of infection by an unknown infection. But they noted that recently there was a burst of the spread of adenoviruses. Adenoviruses were previously associated with the development of hepatitis in children, but mainly in children with a weakened immune system.
In a statement, WHO states the need for additional laboratory research to identify any potential disease associations with specific viruses.
The representatives of the health system of Alabama say they study the increase in incidence of hepatitis in children from November 2021. All sick had a positive test result for adenovirus. American doctors study a connection with one specific type – adenovirus 41 serotype – which is usually associated with the inflammation of the intestine.
So far, WHO does not declare any epidemiological hazard associated with this mysterious disease. However, the organization encourages to closely monitor the new cases of infection and investigate the possible causes of the disease in detail.