77 cases of children with hepatitis of unknown origin were detected in the United Kingdom and Spain

A type of hepatitis of unknown origin has already affected 3 children in Spain and another 74 in the United Kingdom. Local authorities are alerting the health system and families to the disease, and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that it is monitoring the increase in cases of hepatitis after six of the children diagnosed with the disorder in the UK had to undergo liver transplants, although evolve favorably.

Viral hepatitis is a group of viruses that cause inflammation of the liver and acute or chronic infections. The most common are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. There are also hepatitis caused by other causes. Early detection through a blood test allows them to be treated and monitored in time. But in both the new cases in the UK and in Spain it is still unknown what caused the inflammation of the liver.

In the case of the United Kingdom, the UK authorities recorded 74 cases of hepatitis in children following an alert of higher than usual rates of liver inflammation. On 5 April, the medical watchdog was informed about the detection of 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis in children in Scotland. Three days later, he was notified of another 74 cases in the rest of the United Kingdom. More cases are likely to be reported in the coming days.

As of 11 April, no deaths from hepatitis - inflammation of the liver - had been recorded, although some children had been transferred to specialized liver units. An epidemiologically linked case has been detected, meaning that a patient has been in contact with one or more people who have or have had the disease, or have been exposed to a point source of infection.

Dr. Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the UK Health Safety Agency, said officials were working across the country to “investigate a wide range of possible factors that may be causing children to be admitted to hospital with an inflammation of the liver known as hepatitis”.

“One of the possible causes that we are investigating is that this is related to adenovirus infection,” he said. “However, we are thoroughly investigating other possible causes.” Other explanations being investigated are whether Covid-19 could have played a role in the unusual wave of cases.

Authorities stressed that there is “no relationship” between the cases and the Covid-19 vaccine, since none of the children affected by hepatitis had received the injection. According to WHO, laboratory tests have excluded the usual viruses that cause hepatitis. The organization is awaiting the results of other tests for infections, chemicals and toxins.

Dr. Chand gave advice to prevent any possible spread of hepatitis among children: “Normal hygiene measures, such as good handwashing, including child supervision, and respiratory hygiene, help reduce the spread of many of the infections we are investigating.”

“We also ask parents and guardians to watch for signs of hepatitis, including jaundice, and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned,” the expert said.

Meanwhile, in Spain, the Community of Madrid is investigating the first three cases detected that are compatible with severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin. The children, aged between 2 and 7 years old and from Madrid, Aragon and Castilla-La Mancha, are admitted to a hospital in Madrid, as reported by the Ministry of Health.

For now, laboratory tests exclude, in all cases, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses and the usual causes of hepatitis or travel history have also been ruled out, but other types of infectious, toxic or chemical causes are still being investigated, explains the Spanish Ministry of Health.

The investigation comes after last Monday the Coordination Centre for Health Alerts and Emergencies of the Ministry of Health (CCAES) sent a communication to all communities at the request of the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and WHO for the occurrence of cases in the United Kingdom in children under 10 previously healthy years.

Faced with this situation, Health asked the communities, through the Presentation of Alerts and the Public Health Commission and the scientific societies of paediatrics and hospital management, to carry out an active observation and search for possible cases of this disease which, according to the first investigations in the international arena, did not is related to vaccination against COVID-19 or cases of infection.

The symptoms are abdominal pain, vomiting or jaundice (yellowing of the skin); the clinical picture associates a rapid and marked elevation of transaminases.

The health authorities advise as the main preventive measure to wash hands frequently, to cover when coughing with the inside of the elbow and using disposable tissues, as well as to consult with the pediatrician if the child starts with symptoms that worsen within a few days.

KEEP READING: