Wave of hepatitis in children ‘may be linked to Covid-19’

Cases of severe liver inflammation in children being reported in more than a dozen countries could be linked to Covid-19.

At least 348 children have been diagnosed with unexplained hepatitis, forcing some to have liver transplants. A small number have died.

The cases are predominantly in children under the age of 5 who showed initial symptoms of gastroenteritis, including diarrhoea and nausea, followed by jaundice.

Many of the children were found to have an adenovirus infection, which is believed to play a role in the development of the condition.

Adenoviruses are a group of common viruses that infect the linings of the eyes, airways and lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system.

However, experts said it does not fully explain their symptoms, because an adenovirus does not typically cause hepatitis in healthy children.

However, a theory shared in The Lancet, a British medical journal, said the coronavirus could be to blame. According to the hypothesis, a coronavirus infection could linger in the gastroenterological tract of the children affected, where it can come into contact with the adenovirus, causing the immune system to overreact.

Investigations recently turned towards previous exposure and infections with Covid-19.

“At present, the leading hypotheses remain those which involve adenovirus with also still an important consideration about the role of Covid as well, either as a co-infection or a past infection,” said Philippa Easterbrook, from the World Health Organisation’s global hepatitis programme.

Experts said the cause was still speculative and research was continuing.

A British scientist investigating the mysterious global hepatitis outbreak told The National recently that she believed researchers were getting closer to identifying its cause.

Judith Breuer, professor of virology and director at University College London, said the Omicron variant’s role was a “big question”, but added: “We don’t have the answer.”

Although many of the children have tested positive for Covid-19, metagenomic tests have seemed to play down an adverse reaction to Omicron as the main cause, she said. “We haven’t found Omicron in our tests as a whole, but it has certainly has been found in some children,” said Prof Breuer.