U.S. health officials are now investigating more than 100 possible cases of mysterious and severe liver disease in children, including five deaths. (Steve Allen, Alami)
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NEW YORK – U.S. health officials are investigating more than 100 possible cases of mysterious and severe liver disease in children, including five deaths.
About two dozen states have reported suspected cases after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called on doctors to look for surprise cases of hepatitis. The cases date from the end of October in children under 10 years. So far, only nine cases in Alabama have been confirmed.
“We are throwing a wide net to broaden our understanding,” Dr. CD Jay Butler said Friday.
What causes the disease is not clear. Adenovirus has been found in half of children, “but we don’t know if that’s the cause,” he said.
There are dozens of adenoviruses, many of which are associated with symptoms such as colds, fevers, sore throats and pink eyes. But some versions can cause other problems, including inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Officials are investigating a link to a specific version, which is usually associated with inflammation of the intestines.
U.S. health officials have not seen evidence of an unusually large wave of adenoviral infections, although many doctors do not usually do tests.
This week, World Health Organization officials said they had reports of nearly 300 possible cases in 20 countries.
In the United States, most children were young children, almost all were hospitalized, and eight received liver transplants
“It’s still very rare,” Butler said. “Most of these cases have recovered and have fully recovered.
The mystery goes back to November, when Alabama health officials began investigating the first of nine cases of severe hepatitis in children in the state. No one has tested positive for the viruses that usually cause hepatitis. However, the test is positive for adenovirus.
Butler said none of the children in Alabama have been vaccinated against COVID-19. This was ruled out as a possible reason “and we hope that this information will help clarify some of the speculation circulating online.”
Symptoms of hepatitis or inflammation of the liver include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light stools, joint pain and jaundice.
In addition to Alabama, the states reporting suspected cases are: California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York. , Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin. Puerto Rico has also reported at least one case.
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