Dozens of mysterious cases of hepatitis seen in children could be just the tip of the iceberg, experts warned today amid growing concerns about the mysterious global epidemic.
Nearly 170 young people have fallen ill around the world since the first case was discovered in Scotland in late March, according to the World Health Organization. One died and 17 needed a liver transplant.
But leading virologists fear that the real casualties may actually be higher because many parents may get rid of the warning signs.
Jaundice – yellowing of the skin or eyes, a sign of liver disease – has been seen in less than half of sick children. Other symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, lethargy and stomach pain are usually attributed to other diseases, such as food poisoning or norovirus.
Professor Simon Taylor-Robinson, a hepatologist at Imperial College London, told MailOnline: “I think there are more cases. [17 transplants] is quite a large number for the number of cases we have noticed.
“I guess there are more cases than have been reported, but they will probably be less severe.”
Asked if this could be the tip of the iceberg, Professor Taylor-Robinson said, “I think so.”
Twelve countries have reported cases of hepatitis of unknown origin, with 114 British children and 11 Americans known to have been ill.
Health officials believe the disease may be caused by an adenovirus – usually responsible for snoring. Experts say the blockade may have weakened children’s immunity and made them more susceptible to the virus, or it may have been a mutated version.
Investigations are ongoing, but officials still do not rule out a new version of Covid. Another theory is that children may have fought the adenovirus at the same time as Covid.
UK health officials have ruled out the Covid vaccine as a possible cause, and none of the sick British children have been vaccinated because of their young age. None of the cases in the United States have been broken.
The World Health Organization says it has received reports of at least 169 cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” from 12 countries as of Saturday.
Covid’s lock may be behind a mysterious stream of hepatitis cases in children because they reduced social mixing and weakened their immunity, experts say
Professor Taylor-Robinson told MailOnline: “I think it is likely that children who mix in kindergartens and schools will have lower immunity to seasonal adenoviruses than in previous years due to restrictions.
“This means that they may be more at risk of developing hepatitis because their immune response is weaker to the virus.”
He said children were less likely to complain of symptoms than adults – and urged parents to be vigilant about early problems, including stomach pain and yellowing eyes.
But he added that there was no reason to panic, as in “99 percent” of cases the liver was able to regenerate and the chances of having a transplant or dying due to the condition were low.
WHAT CAN BE BEEN BEHIND THE KILLING OF HEPATITIS?
While experts believe that the adenovirus – a virus associated with many common colds – may be behind many cases, the jury does not know the exact cause of the outbreak.
Co-infection
One theory suggests that children infected with Covid and adenovirus at the same time may be at greater risk of hepatitis.
Weakened immunity
British experts suggest that blocking and restrictions have put children at greater risk because they have lower innate immunity to adenovirus.
Adenoviral mutation
Other scientists have suggested that it may be an adenovirus that has acquired “unusual mutations.”
A new version of Covid
UKHSA officials included a “new version of SARS-CoV-2” in their working hypotheses when discussing the version of the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Lisbon today.
Professor Alistair Sutcliffe, a pediatrician at University College London, told MailOnline that the growing number of cases is “a worrying and depressing situation for families”, but parents should not be afraid.
He said: “What families should consider [is] if their child develops jaundice after the first few months of life, he or she quickly needs medical attention.
“But this is true for any child who develops jaundice after the first few months of life, so it’s not new advice.
“With one death and for no apparent reason, life must continue as before. Nothing is scarier than fear itself.
The heads of the World Health Organization (WHO) have received reports of at least 169 cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” from 12 countries.
The cases were found in children aged one month to 16 years, most of whom were hospitalized. The WHO does not disclose in which country the only known death occurred.
The first cases of hepatitis were registered in the UK, where 114 children are already ill. Thirteen cases have been found in Spain, 12 in Israel and 11 in the United States – including nine in Alabama and two in North Carolina.
The unusual disease has also been observed in Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Norway, Romania and Belgium.
The WHO said: “It is not yet clear whether there is an increase in hepatitis cases or an increase in awareness of hepatitis cases, which occur at the expected rate but remain undetected.”
However, other scientists suggest that the number of severe cases in children is unusual.
Richard Peabody, who heads the high-risk pathogen team at the WHO, told STAT News: “Although the numbers are not large, the consequences are quite severe. It is important that the parties look.
None of the cases was caused by any of the five typical strains of the virus – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
Experts say the cases may be related to a virus, often associated with colds, known as adenovirus, but further research is underway.
“As long as the adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, investigations into the cause are ongoing,” the WHO said.
He noted that the cold-like virus was found in at least 74 of the cases, but not all children were tested.
And 19 of the patients also had co-infection with Covid. Another child had Covid, but no adenovirus.
Experts are investigating whether the cases are related to the two viruses.
Experts from the UK Health Security Agency were summoned to a briefing at the European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Lisbon today to present data on the current situation in the UK.
Scientists say they can’t rule out Covid as a possible cause of the outbreak – and also speculate that a new variant of the coronavirus may be behind it.
Dr Muge виevik, an infectious disease expert at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, warned that the virus was a possible explanation, but noted that hepatitis was “not a common feature” of infections in children.
“Acute severe hepatitis is not a common feature of Covid in children, so it is less likely to explain this performance,” he said.
“Adenovirus [Common cold virus] was found in 40 of 53 cases, but not all cases have been tested. Testing for adenovirus is inconsistent in other samples and it is too early to confirm the characteristic.
“It’s important for all countries to share their data once it’s available.”
British scientists also suggest that the blockade may have played a role in weakening children’s immunity and leaving them at increased risk of adenovirus.
Others said the cases could be the result of a virus that has acquired “unusual mutations.”
Only 80% of hepatitis has a detectable cause, experts said.
Professor Graham Cook, an infectious disease expert at Imperial College London, said it was unlikely Covid was guilty.
He said: “Mild hepatitis is very common in children after a number of viral infections, but what is happening now is very different.
“If hepatitis was the result of Covid, it would be surprising not to see it more widespread across the country, given Covid’s current prevalence.”
An Imperial virologist told The Telegraph that it was “very unusual and rare” for children to suffer from severe hepatitis, especially to the extent that they need a liver transplant.
The expert, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The number of cases is exceptional.
“It makes people think something unusual is happening – like a virus that has mutated or some other cause. Send alarm bells.
Hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms – but these can include dark urine, pale gray stools, itchy skin, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Infected people can also suffer from muscle and joint pain, fever, feel and be sick, and be unusually tired all the time.
When hepatitis is spread by a virus, it is usually caused by the consumption of food and drink contaminated with the feces of an infected person, blood-to-blood or sexual contact.
Questions and Answers: What is the mysterious global hepatitis epidemic and what is behind it?
What do we know about the global hepatitis epidemic?
Scientists are puzzled by the global outbreak of hepatitis, which caused one death and 17 liver transplants.
Inflammatory liver disease has been observed in at least 169 children between one month and 16 years of age.
None of the cases was caused by any of the five typical strains of the virus – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is usually caused by a viral infection or damage to the liver from drinking alcohol.
Hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms – but these can include dark urine, pale gray stools, itchy skin, and yellowing of the eyes and skin.
Infected people can also suffer from muscle and joint pain, fever, feel and be sick, and be unusually tired all the time.
When hepatitis is spread by a virus, it is usually caused by the consumption of food and beverages contaminated with the feces of an infected person or blood in the blood …
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