The number of children in the UK suffering from severe hepatitis has risen to 145 as fears of a mysterious jump in cases rise.
The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced an increase of 34 cases, but said most children have recovered and no children have died. There is no increase from 10 children who needed a liver transplant, it was announced on Monday.
Scientists believe there may be a link to adenovirus infection, which is found in most cases, but continue to investigate the cause. Hepatitis is not a common side effect of adenovirus, which usually causes cold-like and nausea-like symptoms, so researchers are investigating whether co-infection, including Covid-19, or non-infectious causes such as food poisoning, drugs or metal exposure may plays a role.
“We are also investigating whether hypersensitivity due to reduced exposure during the Covid pandemic may play a role or whether there has been a change in the genome of the adenovirus,” the UKHSA said in a statement.
Dr Meera Chand, director of the Agency for Clinical and Emerging Infections, said: “We know this could be a worrying moment for parents of young children. Your child is extremely unlikely to develop hepatitis. However, we continue to remind parents to be vigilant about the signs of hepatitis – especially jaundice, which is easiest to spot as a yellow tinge to the whites of the eyes – and contact your doctor if you are concerned.
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Prof. Deirdre Kelly, a pediatric hepatologist at the NHS Trust for Women and Children in Birmingham and part of a group working with the UKHSA to investigate cases, said the jump seemed likely to be linked to the pandemic and that the group had a 1924 medical report. describing the increase in childhood hepatitis after the 1918 flu pandemic. “They also had an outbreak of hepatitis, which is fascinating,” Kelly said.
She added that the far higher number of cases observed in the United Kingdom than in Europe was probably due to a better reporting system. The United Kingdom has centralized treatment centers for the liver, which means that milder cases can be detected quickly.
Chand advised parents to ensure that children follow normal hygiene measures, including thorough hand washing. “As always, children who experience symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea should stay home and not return to school or kindergarten until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped,” she said.
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