Hepatitis

2022 - 5 - 10

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Globalnews.ca"

348 probable cases of acute hepatitis in children reported globally ... (Globalnews.ca)

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that there are now 348 probable cases of severe acute hepatitis among children across five regions ...

There’s always been hepatitis and some severe cases of hepatitis in children pre-pandemic and one would expect post-pandemic as well,” she said. Toronto’s SickKids Hospital reported seven probable cases of severe acute hepatitis on Tuesday, all of “unknown origin,” in children between one month and 16 years of age. Hepatitis impacts the liver and can be detected by the onset of jaundice (yellow eyes), dark urine and/or pale stool. She noted that before the pandemic, about half of severe hepatitis cases among children had no known cause. Over 70 per cent of the U.K.’s cases tested positive for adenovirus. The U.K. currently leads in cases with around 163, and only six countries are reporting more than five cases.

Probable cases of severe acute hepatitis reported by Toronto's ... (The Globe and Mail)

Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children says probable cases of severe acute hepatitis were identified between Oct. 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022 and reported to ...

Tam said cases that emerge in Canada are called “probable” because there’s no confirmation on the specific cause. There’s always been hepatitis and some severe cases of hepatitis in children pre-pandemic and one would expect post-pandemic as well,” she said. She says experts in the United Kingdom and the United States have found cases involving adenovirus type 41 “but that may or may not be the cause or the only factor leading to hepatitis in children.” “We’re still at the investigation stage of trying to figure out whether any of these cases are indeed linked at all. “It remains to be seen whether this number represents an increase in cases of unknown origin compared to similar time periods in previous years or if any of these cases will be confirmed to be caused by a novel clinical entity,” the hospital said in an emailed statement. Even before the pandemic, about half of all pediatric hepatitis cases that are severe would have no known cause, Tam added.

Clues but few answers in the childhood hepatitis mystery (Financial Times)

Lockdowns, adenoviruses, Covid and exposure to dogs have all been blamed for new cases around the world.

Hawaii reports mysterious hepatitis in child under 10 years old (Daily Mail)

The state's Department of Health said the patient was hospitalized with abdominal pain and fever on Maui, its second largest island, at the end of April.

The WHO reported adenovirus has been detected in at least 74 of the cases. The normal causes — hepatitis virus A, B, C, D and E — have all been ruled out. Most of the cases have been detected in the UK (163) and U.S. (109), which have some of the strongest surveillance systems. 'At this time, no cause has been determined. But at least one was in Wisconsin, where the Department of Health confirmed last month it was probing a fatality linked to the illness. Cases are of an 'unknown origin' and are also severe, according to the World Health Organization. It has caused up to two deaths and 18 liver transplants. DOH is collaborating with the CDC to identify the cause of the hepatitis case.' The above map shows the 25 states that have confirmed or suspected hepatitis cases according to the CDC. Hawaii today became the 25th state to reveal it is probing a suspected case of the illness (yellow), with Puerto Rico also having reported at least one case Scientists are puzzled as to what is causing the outbreak, but the leading theory suggests it could be due to adenovirus — a cause of the common cold — with the majority of America's cases testing positive for this. Hawaii has become the 25th state to begin probing a case of mysterious hepatitis in a child less than ten years old — after five deaths and more than 100 cases were reported across America. - There have been 110 cases of the inflammatory liver condition detected in 25 states and Puerto Rico, including five deaths and 15 liver transplants Child under the age of 10 is hospitalized in Hawaii with state's first case of mysterious hepatitis: US has logged more than 100 cases and five deaths in 25 states

Toronto's SickKids hospital aware of seven probable cases of ... (CTV Toronto)

A Toronto children's hospital says it has detected seven cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children over a six month period, ...

It's been a full year since a Kelowna man was last seen by his loved ones. 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago 1 hr ago

Globally Reported 348 Possible Cases of Acute Hepatitis in ... (Eminetra Canada)

According to Dr. Philippa Easterbrook, senior scientist in the WHO hepatitis department, new cases have been added to the other 70 previously reported cases.

Hepatitis affects the liver and can be detected by the development of jaundice (yellow eyes), dark urine, and / or gray stools. The Chic Kids Hospital in Toronto reported on Monday seven possible cases of severe acute hepatitis, all “unexplained”, in children aged 1 month to 16 years. Over 70% of UK cases have been tested positive for adenovirus.

Pennsylvania is investigating cases of unusual hepatitis in children (York Dispatch)

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said it is investigating "multiple" reported cases of unexplained hepatitis infection in previously healthy young ...

"Even though this adenovirus 41 has been linked or discovered in association with some of these children who have hepatitis, it has not been found in the liver itself. "Adenoviruses have not historically been known to cause much in the way of liver disease," Squires said. Most of the children who have developed hepatitis have since recovered. Specifically, many have tested positive for adenovirus 41, which typically causes mild gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms and is not known to be a cause of hepatitis in otherwise healthy children. Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, is most often caused by viruses such as hepatitis A, B and C, but these viruses have not been found in any of these cases. More than 90% of these patients were hospitalized and 14% received liver transplants, according to the CDC. Cases have also been reported in the United Kingdom, Israel and several European countries.