The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced on Friday that ten children in Canada suffered from severe acute hepatitis not caused by known hepatitis viruses over a period of nearly six months.
Three cases occurred in Alberta, two in Manitoba, four in Ontario and one in Quebec. The children were between 1 and 13 years old. All of the children were hospitalized following falling ill between November 3, 2021 and April 23, 2022. Two children required liver transplants.
The cases of severe acute hepatitis were not caused by known hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis A, B, C and E, according to the agency.
The agency also said it was analyzing the data to see if these reports represent an increase in the frequency of cases of severe acute hepatitis in children not caused by known hepatitis viruses.
PHAC says it is working with provinces and territories to identify cases dating back to October 2021 to match the World Health Organization’s own survey of severe acute hepatitis in children. the cause is not certain.
Parents are urged to contact their child’s health care provider if they notice any symptoms in their children, including yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dark urine, clear stools, loss of appetite, fever and fatigue. .
