As of: 04/15/2022 6:28 p.m
According to the WHO, several cases of hepatitis in children have been reported in Great Britain in which the known hepatitis viruses A, B, C, E and D have been ruled out in the laboratory. Corona infections have also been detected in several cases.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dozens of cases of acute hepatitis of unclear origin have occurred in children in Great Britain. The hepatitis viruses A, B, C, E and D were excluded following laboratory tests, the WHO reported in Geneva. In several cases, a corona infection or adenoviruses or both were detected in the children. It is not yet clear whether this is the trigger.
WHO calls for vigilance
The WHO called on all countries to be vigilant to detect possible cases. The European health authority ECDC also called on doctors in the EU to report similar cases to the health authorities. According to experts, acute hepatitis is rare in children.
A few suspected cases had been reported from Ireland, not all of which had been confirmed. The cases would be investigated extensively, for example to determine whether the minors had previously traveled to certain countries or been exposed to possible poisoning. Three other cases were reported from Spain, including a 13-year-old child.
74 cases in the UK
Ten cases of acute hepatitis in previously healthy children aged between eleven months and five years were reported from Scotland on April 5, the WHO reported. One of the children had the first symptoms in January, the others in March. Symptoms are gastrointestinal problems or jaundice. The acute hepatitis with greatly increased liver enzymes was discovered upon admission to the hospital. Just three days later, on April 8, there were already 74 cases in Great Britain, all in children under the age of ten. Six children would have needed liver transplants.