More than a thousand cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has received notification of 1010 probable cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children from 35 countries.

Of these, 22 have died and 46 have required liver transplants.

Since the last update, published on June 24, 2022, 90 new probable cases and four additional deaths have been reported to the WHO. In addition, two new countries, Luxembourg and Costa Rica, have joined the list.

Almost half of the infections (484) have been reported from Europe, with the highest number, 272, in the UK. In America, they have detected 435 cases, including 334 in the United States.

The WHO warns that the actual number may be underestimated, in part due to the limited surveillance systems in place. The count is expected to change as more information and verified data become available.

Unknown origin

Laboratory tests have excluded hepatitis AE viruses in these children. Pathogens such as adenovirus and coronavirus have been detected in several of the cases.

Adenovirus is the most common pathogen. In the European region, it was detected by PCR in 52% of the cases with available results.

The coronavirus was detected by PCR in 16% of cases in the European region.

The most frequent symptoms presented by sick children were nausea or vomiting (60% of cases), jaundice (53%), general weakness (52%), and abdominal pain (50%). The median time between symptom onset and hospitalization was four days.

A health worker in a facility of the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. (Photo: WHO / Yoshi Shimizu)

Prevention measures

Until more is known about the origin of the disease, WHO recommends taking general infection prevention and control measures:

-Wash your hands frequently using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand gel

-Avoid crowded spaces and keep your distance from others

-Ensure good ventilation when indoors

-Wear a well-fitting mask that covers the mouth and nose when necessary

-Cover when coughing and sneezing

-Use safe water to drink

-Follow the five keys to a safer diet: maintain cleanliness; separate raw from cooked; cook food well; keep food at safe temperatures; and use safe water and raw materials.

-Stay home when unwell and seek medical attention

overall survey

On July 11, the WHO launched a global online survey with the aim of estimating the incidence of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin compared to the previous five years, understanding where cases are occurring and liver transplant rates higher than expected.

WHO has shared the voluntary survey with nine global and regional networks of pediatric hepatologists and other pediatric specialists working in large hospitals. The Organization will make the provisional results of the survey public as soon as they are available. (Font: UN News)