In Ireland, a child died of mysterious hepatitis, as the number of deaths worldwide reached nine – scientists are not close to finding out the cause of the mystery.
- One child died of liver disease and the other needed a transplant
- Age was not disclosed, but Ireland said all six of his cases were under the age of twelve
- There are about 350 cases of “unknown hepatitis” in children around the world
A child in Ireland has become the latest victim of mysterious hepatitis in more than 20 countries.
Health officials said a second child, who was being treated for the same disease, had received a liver transplant.
The age of the children was not disclosed, but the Irish Health Service (HSE) said his cases were under 12 years old.
Six children have been hospitalized with hepatitis in Ireland since March, the HSE confirmed, “more than usual during this time.”
The latest death is expected to bring the death toll worldwide to nine, including five in the United States and three in Indonesia.
Since April, about 350 children with “unknown severe hepatitis” have been registered in 21 countries, 163 of them in the UK.
At least 26 young people need liver transplants, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization (WHO) last week.
Experts warn that the current situation could lead to the tip of the iceberg in some countries due to poor controls.
Researchers are puzzled as to what causes the disease, but the basic theory is that it is caused by a group of viruses that usually cause the flu.
The HSE said it had not been in contact with any of the cases in Ireland and that they had not been in contact with any of the patients in the UK. No one had Covid.
Ireland is working closely with its WHO and counterparts in the EU and the UK to determine the cause of the disease.
Parents are advised to consult a doctor if their child develops symptoms of hepatitis, including gray, gray stools, excessive black urine or jaundice of the eyes and skin.
The most common viruses that cause hepatitis are: hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses; has not been identified in any of the reported cases worldwide.
In its most recent update on May 9, the WHO said there had been 348 reported cases of unknown hepatitis since it was first reported in Scotland in April.
All cases were among children between the ages of 11 months and five years, and “most” were positive for adenovirus.
The virus has not yet been identified in liver tissue samples analyzed, so “it may be a coincidence, not a causative factor,” the WHO said.
In a new guideline this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told doctors treating children with hepatitis to take liver samples for analysis.
US STATES WITH ROADS: The map above shows 26 states where the CDC has confirmed or suspected hepatitis cases. Massachusetts and Hawaii, 25 and 26, respectively, said they were investigating suspected cases of the disease (yellow), while Puerto Rico reported at least one other case.
The study found that three-quarters of children in the UK with hepatitis B tested positive for adenovirus.
Researchers are investigating whether the evolution of a mutated strain of adenovirus has intensified or whether the lack of social intervention during a pandemic has weakened children’s immunity. They cannot rule out the presence of an old Covid infection.
In a surprising turn last week, UK health officials are also investigating whether the “dog impact” is to blame.
The UK Health Agency (UKHSA) said last week that a “large” number of British children with hepatitis came from families with dogs.
Officials have not explained how the dogs may be to blame, but they are known carriers of adenovirus strains.
However, health officials have ruled out the Covid vaccine as a possible cause, as most sick British children have not been vaccinated due to their age.
Hepatitis is usually rare in children, but experts have found more cases in the UK since January than they expected a year later.
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