Global health experts are puzzled by a recent attack on liver disease in children, warning that a mysterious epidemic of pediatric hepatitis has been discovered in the United States, Europe and Asia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a national health signal last week that previously healthy children suddenly develop hepatitis or inflammation of the liver caused by a number of viruses.
The first case in the United States was opened in Alabama in October, while cases in the United Kingdom appeared in January. Children aged 1 month to 16 years are affected.
While most cases are in Europe, experts say nearly 200 children worldwide have survived a sudden liver disease while at least one has died and several others have needed a liver transplant.
Global health experts are puzzled by a mysterious outbreak of pediatric hepatitis. Here are the signs and symptoms to look for in sick children. Getty Images
Here are the warning signs and what to look for.
What is hepatitis?
In short, hepatitis is a severe inflammation of the liver. A vital organ for digestion and cleansing the body of toxins, an inflamed liver can suppress function and cause widespread chaos in the body.
While it can sometimes be mild and does not require treatment, severe cases require hospitalization and can lead to liver failure and the need for a transplant.
NY Post Composite
What causes hepatitis?
Medical experts are unsure of what caused the epidemic, the BBC reported.
Hepatitis is usually caused by one of several contagious viruses called hepatitis A, B, and C viruses, the most commonly found in the United States, and D and E, but they are not found in cases.
However, a possible link to the common cold virus – called adenovirus – is being investigated. Nine children in the Alabama cluster tested positive for adenovirus, as did some European cases.
UK officials have said there is “no link” between the cases and the COVID-19 vaccine, as no child with hepatitis has received the vaccine, according to the Guardian.
However, some experts believe there may be a possible link to the pandemic: because many children have been quarantined for so long, social isolation may have weakened the immune system against a virus that could otherwise cause only mild symptoms, Bloomberg reports.
Vaccines for hepatitis A and B viruses are available.
Where are cases found?
The outbreak is widespread, with cases reported in 14 countries in North America, Europe and Asia.
A CDC investigation found that the first cases in the United States were reported in Alabama, with the Alabama Department of Public Health identifying nine cases of hepatitis of unknown origin. The cluster was reported in October 2021 at a children’s hospital in Alabama with previously healthy young people aged 1 to 6 years.
The UK health authorities said on Thursday that 111 cases of pediatric hepatitis had been identified there. Another 40 cases have been reported in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said on Saturday that 12 countries had reported cases of acute hepatitis among children, 114 of them in Britain. Their numbers last weekend did not include unexpected reports of cases coming from Canada and at least one case in Japan, according to local media.
What are the symptoms?
Jaundice, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are among the most commonly reported symptoms, along with fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, light stools, and joint pain. Jaundice or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes is a telltale sign of a diseased liver, as it fails to properly expel bilirubin, a yellowish by-product of blood filtration.
In addition to the typical hepatitis viruses, physicians should test for adenovirus in patients with these symptoms and report possible cases to public health officials.
Dr Alexander Weiman, director of the Liver Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, told the New York Times that parents should seek medical attention if children experience pain in the upper right abdomen, where the liver is located. when the area is touched.
What are the steps of action?
The CDC said all doctors and families should monitor for symptoms and report any suspicious cases to their state and local health departments.
To minimize risk, the CDC promotes many of the same prevention methods as COVID-19, which include washing hands frequently, avoiding touching the face and mouth, and keeping a distance when possible.
With postal wires
Add Comment