New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged parents or guardians to closely monitor their children for cases of acute hepatitis in children, even as the world is battling the Kovid epidemic. The WHO said the mysterious disease that is causing serious liver problems in children has now spread to 21 countries. Liver disease, first reported in the UK in April, has killed five children in the US and three in Indonesia, while about 26 children have had to undergo liver transplantation.Also read – Center issues guidelines for schools due to scorching heat in parts of India Details here
To date, 348 probable cases have been reported in 21 countries, with 26 children in need of liver transplantation. Fifteen countries have reported 5 or fewer cases, the WHO said in a statement.
On 5 April, the United Kingdom International Health Regulations (IHR) reported 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in previously healthy young children (11 months to 5 years old) in Scotland.
What is the cause of mysterious liver disease in children?
While no cause has yet been identified, adenovirus – a common family of infections responsible for illnesses ranging from colds to eye infections – is suspected to be the cause.
The adenovirus, a common group of viruses, spreads to more children than the average level after reaching unusually low levels during an epidemic. One way of investigating is that the Covid-19 ban may have erupted with an increase in common viral infections after phased removal. Children who have not been exposed to the adenovirus for the past two years may now be hit harder when they are exposed to the virus.
Adenovirus has been detected in blood or plasma samples for many cases, but at low viral loads. However, the World Health Organization noted that “adenoviruses have not yet been identified in liver tissue samples and, therefore, may be accidental rather than causal.”
A senior scientist at the WHO’s Hepatitis Department, Dr. According to Philippa Easterbrook, adenovirus type 41 is the most common of the cases, usually causing diarrhea, vomiting and fever, as well as respiratory symptoms, reports Global.ca.
Acute hepatitis in children: where cases have been reported so far
The UK currently leads with about 163 cases, and more than five cases in just six countries. The USA announced on Friday that it was investigating 109 possible cases of “unknown origin”. Covid-19 was also found in 18 per cent of cases in the UK and the WHO is investigating how many cases of total hepatitis previously had the virus.
