Number of child hepatitis cases being investigated rises to 108
The number of cases of hepatitis among children under the age of ten being investigated has risen to 108, health officials have confirmed.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency were continuing to investigate the rise in cases of sudden onset hepatitis, liver inflammation, in children since January.
It said on Thursday a further 34 cases had been identified, bringingthetotalacrosstheuk to 108, with eight children having received a liver transplant.
Of the total confirmed cases, 79 are in England, 14 in Scotland and the rest in Wales and Northern Ireland, the UKHSA added. At least one Scottish child has undergone emergency transplant surgery.
Most of the children were aged three; seven were girls and six were boys. Most of the children had jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea and tiredness before being admitted.
All of the children admitted were in hospital for at least six days. Five are still in-patients, while one has undergone a liver transplant. None of the children had any significant history of illness and all were described as generally healthy before contracting the disease.
The agency also said it is investigating the possible causes behind the spike in cases but there was no link to the Covid-19 vaccine as none of the children had received a jab.
It added that the investigation, including information from patient samples and
surveillance systems, continued to point towards a link to a group of viruses called adenoviruses, with 77% of cases testing positive for adenovirus.
But the agency added it was “not usual to see this pattern of disease” from adenovirus, and it was also looking into other possible factors, such as another infection like Covid-19 or an environmental cause.
The UKHSA said it was also investigating whether there had been a change in the
genome of the adenovirus.
Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: “We are working with the NHS and public health colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to swiftly investigate a wide range of possible factors which may be causing children to be admitted to hospital with liver inflammation known as hepatitis.
“Information gathered through our investigations
increasingly suggests that this is linked to adenovirus infection. However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.”
The UKHSA said that adenovirusesareafamilyofcommon viruses that usually cause a rangeofmildillnesses–including colds, vomiting and diarrhoea – and most people recover without complications.
While they do not typically cause hepatitis, it is a known rare complication of the virus.
Adenoviruses are commonly passed from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces, as well as through the “respiratory route”, the agency said.
It added that the most effective way to minimise the spread is to practise good hand and respiratory hygiene and supervise thorough hand washing in younger children.