A mysterious strain of severe hepatitis is hitting children, with at least one death and 17 young people needing a liver transplant - according to the World Health Organisation. The condition has been found in 12 countries with 169 cases identified so far - 114 in the UK.
Accute hepatitis is an inflation of the liver, and the new severe type in children has also been found in Spain, Israel the USA, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Norway, Romania and Belgium, reports The Guardian.
Severe hepatitis in previously healthy children is usually rare but cases have now recently been found in children aged from one month to 16 years old. There were a number of cases in Scotland at the start of this year.
Richard Pebody, of the WHO European division’s high threats pathogen team told US website Stat : “Although the numbers aren’t big, the consequences have been quite severe. It’s important that countries look.”
The cases cannot be linked to any of the five typical strains of hepatitis and could instead be linked to an adenovirus - which normally just causes the common cold. At least 74 of the infected children tested positive for adenovirus 41.
The virus has never before been known to cause severe liver inflammation in children. There are fears the virus may have mutated, and may be working in tandem with Covid. Any link to Covid-19 vaccines has been ruled out.
Some scientists say children may have been left more vulnerable due to less social mixing during lockdown.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency were continuing to investigate the rise in cases of sudden onset hepatitis, liver inflammation, in children since January.
There have been eight liver transplants in children in the UK linked to the disease. Cases have been found in all four UK nations.
Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: “We are working with the NHS and public health colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to swiftly investigate a wide range of possible factors which may be causing children to be admitted to hospital with liver inflammation known as hepatitis.
“Information gathered through our investigations increasingly suggests that this is linked to adenovirus infection. However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.”
The UKHSA said that adenoviruses are a family of common viruses that usually cause a range of mild illnesses – including colds, vomiting and diarrhoea – and most people recover without complications.
While they do not typically cause hepatitis, it is a known rare complication of the virus.
Adenoviruses are commonly passed from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces, as well as through the “respiratory route”, the agency said.
It added that the most effective way to minimise the spread is to practise good hand and respiratory hygiene and supervise thorough handwashing in younger children.
Dr Chand urged parents to be alert to the signs of the illness such as jaundice, and added: “Normal hygiene measures such as thorough handwashing – including supervising children – and good thorough respiratory hygiene, help to reduce the spread of many common infections, including adenovirus.
“We are also calling on parents and guardians, to be alert to the signs of hepatitis – including jaundice – and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned.”
Symptoms of hepatitis
Short-term (acute) hepatitis often has no noticeable symptoms, so you may not realise you have it.
If symptoms do develop, they can include:
- muscle and joint pain
- a high temperature
- feeling and being sick
- feeling unusually tired all the time
- a general sense of feeling unwell
- loss of appetite
- tummy pain
- dark urine
- pale, grey-coloured poo
- itchy skin
- yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
See your GP if you have any persistent or troublesome symptoms that you think could be caused by hepatitis.
Long-term (chronic) hepatitis also may not have any obvious symptoms until the liver stops working properly (liver failure) and may only be picked up during blood tests.
In the later stages it can cause jaundice, swelling in the legs, ankles and feet, confusion, and blood in your stools or vomit.
