Three Suspicious Cases of Severe Hepatitis in Children Possible Adenovirus-Related Detected in Illinois – NBC Chicago

Last week, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Issue public health alerts nationwide Ask doctors across the country to be aware of abnormal cases of severe liver disease in children with infectious diseases.

Authorities said in the recommendation that nine cases of hepatitis or liver inflammation were reported in Alabama in children aged 1 to 6 years. NBC News Report Two more have been identified in North Carolina, according to the state health department.

Internationally, the UK Health and Safety Agency has recorded 111 cases of unexplained hepatitis in children under the age of 10 since January. Ten children needed a liver transplant.

All children were previously healthy.

The United Nations Health Agency said it has received at least 169 reports of “acute hepatitis of unknown cause” and one death has been reported.

The cause of the mysterious illness is not entirely clear, but the main suspect is actually the adenovirus detected in 75% of the confirmed cases tested, British officials said in a statement on Monday.

Monday, Illinois Public Health Service It issued a warning that three possible cases of a mysterious illness detected in Illinois were reported-two in the suburbs of Chicago and one in western Illinois.

One case that may have been treated with Park Ridge’s Advocate Children’s Hospital

A 4-year-old boy was taken to Park Ridge’s Advocate Children’s Hospital for hepatitis, or “liver inflammation,” about two weeks ago, Dr. Vincent Bianck, a pediatric gastroenterologist, told NBC Chicago.

According to Bianck, the child also tested positive for adenovirus, which was given under the warning of the CDC. “It looks like a virus that has been identified in both British individuals and individuals identified in Alabama,” Bianck said.

Doctors are still waiting for results to see if the strain is specific to an unexplained case.

“The number of his liver surged to over 3,000, we followed him in the hospital for three or four days and actually had a liver biopsy, how bad his liver was and how bad it was. I confirmed, “Bianc said.

Fortunately, as in some previously reported cases, the child’s condition improved and his liver began to recover spontaneously without the need for a transplant.

He was discharged last week.

Difference between hepatitis and adenovirus

The liver processes nutrients, filters blood, and fights infections. The infection caused symptoms such as jaundice, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Hepatitis can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Graham Cooke, a professor of infectious diseases at Imperial College London, said: The liver unit required professional care and some required a liver transplant.

Adenovirus, a common group of viruses, is now circulating in children at higher than average levels after dropping to abnormally low levels during a pandemic.

Adenovirus can cause a variety of illnesses and symptoms and spread from person to person. Most commonly, people infected with the virus experience respiratory illness, but they can also develop gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and bladder infections.

Adenovirus and hepatitis share symptoms, but hepatitis is far more of a peculiar symptom to watch out for, according to Dr. David Hill, a pediatrician based in Wayne County, North Carolina and an official spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Is related to.

“Adenoviruses usually run the course without the need for medical intervention,” Hill said. Hepatocytes, on the other hand, “may lead to hospitalization and may require a liver transplant.”

What are the symptoms of each?

Symptoms of hepatitis include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, arthralgias, and jaundice.

Diarrhea and nausea have been reported in both hepatitis and adenovirus patients, and doctors say there is a way to distinguish between the two.

Parents should keep an eye on sick children and be aware of severe abdominal pain, fever, dark urine, or light-colored stools. Dr. Nipny Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, said the most prominent symptom to note is jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and white of the eyes.

“Symptoms of hepatitis in childhood can be vague at first-abdominal pain, loss of appetite, severe malaise-but then, as it progresses, children have dark urine, pale stools, and yellowish white eyes. “These are things that parents notice, and when parents notice, they are from their pediatricians, or urgently or,” said Dr. Estella Alonso, a liver specialist at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. I realize that I should see a doctor as soon as possible in an emergency situation. “

According to Lully Children’s Hospital, the most common symptoms of acute hepatitis are:

• Flu-like symptoms
• heat
• Nausea and / or vomiting
• Anorexia
• I feel sick overall
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• diarrhea
• Subsequent symptoms include dark urine and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). Symptoms of hepatitis may resemble other symptoms or medical problems. Always consult your child’s doctor for diagnosis.

The hospital states that symptoms are likely to vary from child to child.

Experts say that public health protocols implemented from coronaviruses are also the best way to prevent adenovirus.

Is there a link to COVID?

One method of investigation being investigated is that the outbreak may be associated with a general outbreak of viral infections after the COVID-19 restriction has been phased out. Children who have not been exposed to adenovirus in the last two years can be hit harder when exposed to the virus.

“Information gathered through our research increasingly suggests that this increase in sudden onset hepatitis in children is associated with adenovirus infection,” said UKHSA Director of Clinical and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Said Dr. Mirachand. “But we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.”

No normal virus (hepatitis A to hepatitis E) that causes infectious liver inflammation was detected in any of the 111 cases investigated in the United Kingdom.

There are dozens of adenoviruses, many of which are associated with cold-like symptoms, fever, sore throat, and pink eyes, but U.S. officials say nine children in Alabama test positive for adenovirus. Authorities said they were investigating a link to one particular version, adenovirus 41. — This is usually associated with intestinal inflammation.

“It has been found in a significant proportion of these children and children in the UK, but it is so common that we cannot say for sure the cause and effect. That is certainly a possible cause.” , Cook County Health Department Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control.

Public health authorities COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection) Vaccines, saying that none of the affected children were vaccinated.

What does the World Health Organization say?

Although adenoviruses are on the rise in the United Kingdom, WHO said the potential role of these viruses in inducing hepatitis is unclear. WHO said less than 5 cases were identified in Ireland and 3 cases in Spain among children aged 22 months to 13 years.

The United Nations Health Agency said it was “very likely” to detect more cases given the surge in cases and increased surveillance over the past month.

Still, experts say that the risk of severe hepatitis in healthy children remains rare.

“It’s still very rare, you know,” Welbel said. “I’ve seen very few cases so far, some of them are severe and some cases in the United States required liver transplants, but so far it’s me. Is what we call rare. ”