Adenovirus type 41 track most likely
Cases of acute hepatitis in children are increasing worldwide. The origin of these severe inflammations of the liver still remains unknown. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to receive dozens of reports of cases of hepatitis in children, with a total of nearly 230 probable cases worldwide. According to WHO figures, 228 probable cases have been reported in 20 countries as of May 1 and more than 50 other cases are under investigation. As for the number of children who died as a result of this mysterious liver disease, it amounts to 4, including three Indonesian children. According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the three children, aged 2, 8 and 11, presented with fever, jaundice, seizures and loss of consciousness.
In Morocco, no cases have been detected as confirmed by Dr. Mouad Merabet, coordinator of the National Center for Public Health Emergency Operations at the Ministry of Health, in a publication on the LinkedIn social network. “As of 05/04/2022 (11:23 p.m.), no case of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children (probably adenovirus) has been recorded in Morocco,” he said. This is what Dr. Said Afif, pediatrician and president of Infovac Maroc, confirmed to us, indicating: “There are no cases in Morocco. The most probable track is that of adenovirus type 41”. The question of an immune “debt” which would make certain children more fragile is also raised by Dr Said Afif. According to the latter, the development of this hepatitis would have been favored by this “immune debt” and this following more than two years of pandemic and barrier gestures.
Indeed, the low exposure to the virus thanks to barrier gestures has meant that the immune system has been less stressed and has not been prepared to deal with these infections. Dr Afif believes: “It is important that children can meet other children and when they become infected, they become immunized”. The Department of Health and Social Care has been closely monitoring the epidemiological situation of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology since the first cases appeared in several children in the UK. Faced with this increase in cases, the WHO published a report suggesting an adenovirus infection as a possible cause. Adenovirus (type 41) has been identified in faecal samples from almost half of infected children. “Although adenovirus is currently hypothesized as the underlying cause, it does not fully explain the severity of the clinical picture,” the organization says.
It should also be remembered that pediatric cases are negative for hepatitis A to E, the most common cause of liver inflammation. The WHO and specialists recommend that parents encourage their children to wash their hands, as well as to cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing, to protect themselves once morest any viral infection. Thus, to guard once morest it, it is necessary to respect all the basic rules of hygiene, such as hand washing. These protective measures help reduce many infections. Parents should also watch very closely for possible signs in their children, such as diarrhoea, yellowing of the skin, eyes, muscle or joint pain, abnormal fatigue, stomach aches, vomiting, itchy skin, and high temperature.
