There are currently nearly 200 cases of unexplained severe hepatitis affecting children around the world, a European health official said on Tuesday.
The UK is the worst affected country with 111 cases at the last census.
Another 40 cases have been identified in the European Union and the European Economic Area, said Dr Andrea Amon, director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Cases have also been confirmed in the United States and Israel.
“Investigations are ongoing in all reporting countries, but the exact cause of this hepatitis is still unknown,” Amon told a news conference in Stockholm.
She added that there is currently no connection between the cases or any connection to the trip.
Severe hepatitis or inflammation of the liver is rare in young children. The current outbreak has resulted in at least 17 liver transplants in patients under the age of 16 and one death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The ECDC declined to confirm in which country the death occurred, telling Euronews Next that the information was “confidential”. The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says no hepatitis deaths have been reported in the UK.
Is the adenovirus to blame?
Although the possible cause is still uncertain, Amon named adenovirus – a common virus that usually causes flu-like or gastrointestinal symptoms – as a possible trigger for hepatitis in affected children.
“Investigations are currently linking to an adenovirus infection,” she said.
Hepatitis is usually the result of a different infection from the hepatitis A, B, C, D or E viruses, but no signs of this have been present in the cases identified worldwide so far.
Asked if the increase in hepatitis among children was simply the result of increased surveillance, Amon said it was unlikely that such infections had gone unnoticed in the past.
“Basic number [of cases] it is difficult to do because the adenovirus is not under routine surveillance, “she told reporters.
“On the other hand, because this is such a difficult and unusual feature, I would expect it to have been noticed earlier,” she added.
Amon declined to comment on whether a possible drop in immunity caused by two years of blocking and social distancing associated with COVID-19 could be a factor in the cases, saying “it could be a factor, but I can’t to confirm or deny this because it is currently under investigation. “
Hepatitis: What to watch out for
Amon told reporters that cases of hepatitis have shown similar symptoms.
“The most common clinical manifestation is jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes – followed by vomiting or gastrointestinal symptoms,” she said.
Amon’s council reiterated Monday’s update by Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, who said parents and guardians should be vigilant about hepatitis symptoms, including jaundice.
“Children who experience symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection, including vomiting and diarrhea, should stay home and not return to school or kindergarten until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped,” Chand said.
The typical patient with unexplained acute hepatitis is a child under the age of 5, UKHSA reported.
Most patients initially suffered from nausea and diarrhea, and later developed jaundice, the agency added.
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