The acute hepatitis of unknown origin that was detected for the first time in the United Kingdom and already affects more than a hundred children has claimed its first fatality, as announced by the World Health Organization (WHO), although it does not No information on the origin or age of the deceased. This health problem that is affecting children under 16 years of age now totals 169 cases spread over 11 countries in the European Region and one in the Americas, according to data from April 21, 2022.
This outbreak of infectious disease of unknown origin was first published by the WHO on April 15 this year, and since then cases have been increasing in children. By country, as of April 21 there were 114 cases in the United Kingdom, 13 in Spain – the second with the most cases -, 12 in Israel, 9 in the United States, 6 in Denmark, 5 in Ireland, 4 in the Netherlands and Italy, 2 in France and Norway and, finally, one in Romania and Belgium.
As for the profile of those affected, the WHO indicates that they are children between one month and 16 years of age, of which 17 children –which represents approximately 10%– have needed to undergo a liver transplant, one of them in Spain. Inflammation of the liver, which is what causes hepatitis, generates the following symptoms, among others: diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, high levels of liver enzymes or alanine aminotransferase and jaundice –yellowing of the eyes–.
20 of the cases tested positive for COVID-19
Although the cause of this hepatitis remains unknown, “adenovirus has been detected in at least 74 cases, and of the number of cases with information from molecular tests, 18 have been identified as type F 41. SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 20 cases that have been tested. In addition, 19 with SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus co-infection were detected”, they indicate from the WHO.
The possible origin of this new acute hepatitis could be due to a greater susceptibility of young children due to the low circulation of adenoviruses in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most cases so far are in the UK, where adenovirus infections, the common cold virus, have also risen sharply after low levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is not yet known whether this increase in cases is due to improved laboratory tests for adenoviruses or because the incidence has actually increased.
The WHO indicates that the possible appearance of a new adenovirus causing this acute hepatitis could be due to factors such as increased susceptibility among young children after a lower level of adenovirus circulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as SARS-CoV-2 coinfection.
Further studies are underway in countries that have reported cases, which are providing more detailed clinical and exposure histories, as well as environmental and food toxicology tests, and additional virological and microbiological tests, the WHO says. Affected countries have also started to carry out enhanced surveillance activities to be able to identify cases more quickly and deal with the problem it poses.
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