WHO Confirms Child Death Due to Acute Hepatitis Infection Spreading in Dozens of Countries

KOMPAS.com – World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the death of the child due to infection hepatitis mysterious weight that has been reported in 12 countries.

Most of the infections, with 114 cases were in the UK, followed by Spain with 13 and Israel with 12.

The outbreak has also spread to the United States, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Norway, Romania and Belgium.

The UN agency recorded 169 rare cases of acute hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver in children. Of these, 17 cases were severe and required liver transplantation.

Read also: Dozens of cases of childhood hepatitis in the UK have been identified, what are the causes?

Launch The GuardianHealth authorities have been investigating the mysterious disease affecting the age group of one month to 16 years, since a cluster of cases was identified in Scotland from January to mid-April.

WHO has encouraged countries around the world to monitor and report similar cases.

“While the numbers are not large, the consequences are quite severe,” said Richard Pebody’s European division of the WHO high-threat pathogens team.

The hepatitis cases that occur are not related to any of the five types of hepatitis viruses, namely A, B, C, D, and E.

Scientists believe that adenovirus, a common type of virus that can cause colds, may be the cause of the surge in cases of acute hepatitis. At least 74 of the affected children have tested positive for adenovirus.

Read also: Get to know Hepatitis and the different types

Meanwhile, adenovirus 41 has been associated with hepatitis in immunocompromised children.

Scottish Public Health Director Jim McMenamin said he was investigating whether an adenovirus had mutated to cause more severe disease or could cause problems with other viruses including SARS-CoV-2.

Symptoms reported include dark urine, yellowing of the eyes and skin, pain, fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, light-colored stools, and joint pain.

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