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In recent weeks, cases of hepatitis of unknown origin have been increasing among children. How many cases have been identified so far? Should we be worried? Update with Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo
How many cases of this viral hepatitis are there to date?
According to the World Health Organization, at least 169 cases were identified across Europe and the United States on April 23. The addition of Japan to the list marks the 12th country to identify a case. At present, the threshold of 170 diagnosed cases has surely been exceeded, according to the World Health Organization, which estimates that “other cases will be detected before finding the cause of this hepatitis”.
It is in Europe that there are the most cases. In the UK, no less than 114 cases have been diagnosed. Followed by Spain with 13 cases, Israel with 12 cases and the United States with 9 cases. In addition, 17 children required liver transplantation for treatment and the disease caused one death.
Who is affected by this hepatitis?
This disease mainly affects children under 10 years of age, but overall, the age of the various affected patients ranges from 1 month to 16 years. The symptoms presented are of the gastrointestinal type, with in particular abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. Severe acute hepatitis follows with jaundice and increased liver enzyme levels. Most cases had no fever. The common viruses that cause acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses) were not detected in any of these cases.
What are the causes ?
The causes of this hepatitis have not been formally identified. Health authorities are not ruling out any causes at this time. But the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says a strain of adenovirus called F41 appears to be the most likely cause.
For Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, the epidemiological investigation is essential to pinpoint the cause. “It is necessary to find out where this hepatitis comes from in order to understand its cause. For the time being, no specific cause has been identified, we do not know if it is linked to the Covid, it is also premature to assume it. Drug, viral or infectious causes are not excluded”.
How is this hepatitis different?
For Dr. Kierzek, “this hepatitis is different because it is worrying. We cannot trivialize it, especially since 17 children have required a transplant and we are already deploring one death”. Moreover, it does not resemble any other known hepatitis, according to the doctor.
Should we be worried?
However, we must not give in to panic, according to Dr. Kierzek. “It is dramatic, because this pathology caused a death. But fortunately, the number of cases remains limited for the moment and the specialists have good hope of finding its cause and above all, that it is curable. concludes the doctor.