Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Control (CDC) is conducting in-depth research into cases of hepatitis whose causes are still unknown in children. And the agency reported Friday, that these cases were monitored in 25 US states and territories. Most of the infected children required hospitalization, and 5 of them died.
This sharp and mysterious increase in the number of cases prompted the agency to issue health consultations that were distributed to medical staff to help care providers detect and report cases accordingly.
What should parents know about cases of hepatitis in children? To what extent is this disease supposed to cause anxiety for them, and what are the symptoms that they should notice and contact the treating doctor accordingly? Is there a link between cases of hepatitis and “Covid-19”?
Liana Wynne, CNN Certified Medical Analyst, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, answered these questions.
CNN: What is hepatitis, and how common is it among children?
of the. Liana Wayne: It is an inflammation of the liver tissue for many reasons. People may get hepatitis A, B, and C, which are caused by infectious hepatitis viruses. Excessive consumption of alcohol, some medications, and certain toxins may cause hepatitis, in addition to some health conditions. There is a so-called autoimmune hepatitis, in which the body’s immune system fights the liver.
This disease is uncommon in children, especially hepatitis not associated with hepatitis viruses. This is why cases of unexplained hepatitis have been reported so far. There are not many cases, but they are large enough to warrant a closer investigation.
CNN: How many children have this type of hepatitis, and what is their status?
where: By 1 May, the World Health Organization had announced 228 probable cases of hepatitis in children, and dozens of other children had been thoroughly tested. These cases have been found in more than 20 countries.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Control, 25 US states and territories have reported 109 cases under investigation. A week ago, a detailed report issued by the agency analyzed that cases of hepatitis in children began to be tracked in the US state of Alabama since October, when 9 children were diagnosed with the disease, without clearly knowing the cause that led to their infection with the disease.
These nine children are scattered over different areas of Alabama and there is no connection between them. All of them are generally in good health and do not have health problems. The median age of infection was set at 3 years, after the disease affected children between the ages of 1 and 6 years.
3 of the 9 children in this age group developed life-threatening kidney failure. Two of them underwent a liver transplant. The agency announced that the nine children are currently recovering, including those who underwent liver transplantation.
CNN: Why are so many cases concentrated in one state?
where: We still don’t know why. In my opinion, nothing is specific to Alabama, but it is likely that there are other cases in other states that have not been reported. For this reason, the agency issued a health advice brochure, to educate doctors about these cases and to report them when they are discovered.
The United Kingdom was the first to report cases to the World Health Organization. There was an alert to monitor new cases, and the Health Security Agency has identified 163 cases at the minimum in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is likely that American doctors are becoming more familiar with the topic, and more cases may be reported in America as well.
CNN: What are the causes of these cases of hepatitis that have been discovered so far?
where: When patients show symptoms of hepatitis, they undergo diagnostic tests to determine the type of disease they have (A, B, and C), or if they are exposed to certain toxins or medications, or there are indications of autoimmune hepatitis. However, the results of these tests were negative in these children.
The results of the tests for the nine children infected with Alabama, in the agency’s report, are one thing in common: their blood tests showed that they had been infected with adenovirus.
Given the potential link, that’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing a health alert. She advised doctors to look for cases of hepatitis in children and report them to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health authorities immediately, as well as to ask health care providers that these children should undergo a specific adenovirus test.
CNN: Are these cases related to “Covid-19”?
where: It seems unlikely. And none of the children among the group of cases monitored in Alabama was admitted to the hospital due to being infected with “Covid-19”. There was also no link to their receiving the coronavirus vaccine. The UK’s Health Security Agency previously stated that none of the more than 100 cases had been vaccinated so far.
CNN: How worried should parents be, and what symptoms should they notice in their children?
where: The causes of children contracting this type of hepatitis remain unknown and the number of cases is very rare, although some cases are very serious.
Parents don’t have to worry too much but be aware that these conditions are under investigation, and they should contact their GP if they are concerned.
The initial symptoms of hepatitis are nonspecific, which means that many people may have these symptoms for a variety of reasons, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heat, fatigue, loss of appetite, and joint pain. Later signs include dark urine, light-colored stools, yellowing of the skin, as well as the whites of the eyes and eyelids.
Many children suffer from viral diseases that can cause digestive disorders, fever, and fatigue. If your child is unable to retain fluids, this is an indication that you should hurry up and call your doctor. If symptoms persist and you don’t see improvement, or if your child seems very lethargic, call your doctor right away.
CNN: Can anything be done to prevent these cases of hepatitis?
where: Since the cause is still unknown, we can’t say what actions will help prevent it from happening. If there is indeed an association with the adenovirus, the same strategies we have relied on during the coronavirus pandemic will be helpful, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, and isolating people at home when sick.