Investigation of outbreaks of mystery hepatitis will escalate

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) Become the latest healthy body Begin a series of investigations of unexplained hepatitis cases in children who have confused and anxious doctors.


The report appeared to children in the United States and Europe on April 5, but there is anecdotal evidence that the case dates back to October 2021.


Nine out of ten US-based children involved in the CDC study were hospitalized as a result of the infection, 14% of the 109 cases under investigation required liver transplants, and five died.


Research It is also carried out in JakartaLast month, three children died of similar symptoms Currently reported In 5 of the 6 World Health Organization (WHO) regions.


Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director of Infectious Diseases at the CDC, described the situation as “advancing” and examined some common causes of viral hepatitis, but none were found. Said that.


However, Dr. Philippa Easterbrook, a senior scientist at WHO’s global hepatitis program, said: Propose recently There may be a potential association to a particular type of adenovirus called F41 found in 72 of the 84 cases tested.


Although many of the tests are limited to the United Kingdom, it has been reported that adenovirus was detected in more than 50% of CDC cases in the United States.


Dr. Easter Brook also said that many other viruses commonly associated with infection, such as hepatitis A virus, cytomegalovirus, and adenomy, have not been identified.


No cases of mysterious hepatitis have been identified in Australia yet, and there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that the rare condition itself is widespread throughout the world. However, Professor Andrew Lloyd of the Kirby Institute said the fact that it happened first in the United Kingdom and then in Europe suggests that it can spread across countries.


Also, Professor Peter White of the University of New South Wales said that if a virus other than the virus commonly associated with infection is found to cause hepatitis, such as adenovirus F41, it is a new virus we have never seen. It says it will be a thing. 30 years “.


“There are about 113 types of adenovirus, but F41 and some others are well known to cause the stomach.” He said..


“The liver is really like a gastrointestinal helper, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to me or any other virologist if the virus could infect the liver.


“If this virus infects liver cells, it indicates a change in directionality, which I think suggests that something must have changed with the virus.”


The severity of the illness is noteworthy for doctors treating children in the United States who have formed part of the CDC study.


“I thought it was strange, even during the first case,” said Dr. Markus Buchfellner, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama.


“And when the second one came in, it was when I said,” OK, I need to talk to someone about this. ” “


Case Has been reported In children aged 1 month to 16 years, the majority of infected children were not vaccinated, so association with COVID vaccination was ruled out.


However, Professor Robert Buoy, a pediatrician of infectious diseases at the University of Sydney and a vaccine expert, has questioned whether the disease itself may be related.


“The development of new hepatitis in children requires careful and urgent attention,” he said.


“Can this be a sign of coinfection with both adenovirus and COVID-19 in infants with the underlying rare genetic problems?


Adenovirus is also well known to be a symbiosis as well as a pathogen of pediatric gastrointestinal illness.So [another] The important question is whether the virus was actually found in inflamed hepatocytes.


The UK Health Security Agency Identify potential connections with dogsFind “exposure to family members or other dogs with a relatively large number of dogs”.



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COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) hepatitis Infection Pediatrics