- Possible cause of childhood hepatitis outbreak could be linked to a common virus
- The source could be a strain of adenovirus called F41
- Most cases are in children under the age of five.
Doctors reveal possible cause of MYSTERIOUS childhood hepatitis
The possible cause of hepatitis outbreak in children it could be related to a common virus, according to health officials.
In an update on Monday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said its investigation into the mysterious spike in cases “increasingly suggests” the source is a adenovirus strain called F41.
Adenoviruses are a group of common viruses They cause a variety of illnesses and cold-like symptoms.
The agency said no virus that cause infectious hepatitis (hepatitis A to E).
Most cases are in children under the age of five.
Most of the cases are in kids under five years of age who showed initial symptoms of gastroenteritis, such as diarrhea and nausea, followed by the onset of jaundice.
The UKHSA has confirmed a further three cases since its update on April 21, bringing the number of cases to 111.
Of the UK cases, 81 are in England, 14 in Scotland, 11 in Wales and 5 in Northern Ireland.
A total of 10 cases from the UK have received a liver transplant
In an update on April 25, the UKHSA said growing data suggests rising severe cases of hepatitis it may be related to adenovirus infection, but other causes are still being actively investigated.
The adenoviruses was the most common pathogen detected in 40 of 53 (75 percent) confirmed cases tested.
routine data and laboratory of the NHS show that the common viruses circulating in children are currently more tall than in previous years and a marked increase in adenoviruses, particularly in the one to four year age group.
“Information gathered through our investigations increasingly suggests that this increase in sudden-onset hepatitis in children is related to adenovirus infection. However, we are fully investigating other possible causes,” said Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at the UKHSA.
Symptoms of the MYSTERIOUS hepatitis
Signs of hepatitis include:
- Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- dark urine
- Pale gray stools (poo)
- Skin itch
- muscle and joint pain
- A high temperature
- feeling and being sick
- Feeling unusually tired all the time
- loss of appetite
- Stomachache
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