WHO has reported 169 cases of hepatitis of unknown origin in children in 12 countries around the world, one child has died. Website of the organization says.
The cases are registered in 11 countries of the WHO European Region and one country of the Region of the Americas: Great Britain (114 cases), Spain (13), Israel (12), USA (9), Denmark (6), Ireland (5), Netherlands (4), Italy (4), Norway (2), France (2), Romania (1) and Belgium (1).
According to WHO, the age of those infected ranges from 1 month to 16 years old. Approximately one in ten patients required liver transplantation, and at least one death was reported.
«The clinical syndrome among the identified cases is acute hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) with a pronounced increase in the activity of liver enzymes. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, preceding severe acute hepatitis, as well as increased level of liver enzymes or alanine aminotransaminase and jaundice, have been reported in many cases. In most cases, there was no fever. Common viruses causing acute viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E) were not detected in any of these cases. International travel or contacts with other countries, based on currently available information, were not identified as factors,» the statement says.
The WHO noted that adenovirus was identified in at least 74 cases, SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 20 cases, and SARS-CoV-2 and adenovirus co-infection was detected in 19 people.
The organization recalled that common preventive measures for adenovirus and other common infections include regular handwashing and respiratory hygiene. The WHO advised member states to investigate and report cases of acute hepatitis in children. However, it did not recommend restrictions on travel or trade with Britain or any other country where cases of acute hepatitis were found.
The first 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children under 10 years old in central Scotland were reported to WHO on April 5. At least 74 cases had been detected in the United Kingdom by April 8.
