The WHO said that the cause behind the reported cases remains unknown. (Representative photo)
A mysterious strain of severe hepatitis – inflammation of the liver – found in 11 countries has killed one child, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). So far, at least 169 cases have been identified in children aged one month to 16, with the majority in the UK, which has reported 116 cases since January.
Other countries, including the United States, Israel, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain, also reported fewer cases.
While one child died of an “acute, severe” strain of hepatitis, 17 children needed a liver transplant, the agency said.
While mild pediatric hepatitis is not unheard of, severe hepatitis in previously healthy children is rare.
The WHO said that the cause behind the reported cases remains unknown. It says the adenovirus is a possible hypothesis, but research is underway to identify the cause.
Many cases have reported gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, elevated levels of the liver enzymes aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine and jaundice. Other children report symptoms such as dark urine, nausea, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, light stools and joint pain.
“International travel or connections with other countries based on currently available information have not been identified as factors,” the WHO said.
Of particular concern is that the cases are not related to the typical viruses usually associated with the condition – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
“This is still a very small number of cases, but they are children, this is the main concern, and the other thing is the burden,” said Maria Buti, a professor of hepatology in Barcelona and chair of the European Research Association. of the liver to Reuters. She is closely following the outbreak with the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC).
Public health alerts in the United States and Europe have asked doctors to monitor the condition and test children for adenovirus if they suspect hepatitis.
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