A case of mysterious hepatitis in children has also been discovered for the first time in our country, the World Health Organization WHO reported on Saturday. Health institute Sciensano expects that several more possible cases of acute liver disease will emerge in the coming weeks.
Scienscano confirms that a first case has now been identified in our country. “This is a case of acute liver disease in a child that resembles the cases in the UK,” said virologist Steven Van Gucht.
At least 169 cases have been reported worldwide to date, the majority of which are in the United Kingdom (114). In addition, cases have also been identified in Spain (13), Israel (12), USA (9), Denmark (6), Ireland (less than 5), Netherlands (4), Italy (4), Norway (2), France (2), Romania (1) and Belgium (1).
All patients are between 1 month and 16 years old. Seventeen children had to undergo a liver transplant. One child has died.
Cause
The cause of the mysterious liver disease is therefore not yet known. It is certainly not one of the usual hepatitis viruses (A to E). As a potential cause, the focus is now mainly on an adenovirus. 74 cases tested positive for an adenovirus infection.
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We don’t yet know if there is a common cause, let alone whether this is caused by a virus. This is still in the research phase.
“We don’t yet know whether there is a common cause, let alone whether this is caused by a virus. This is still completely in the research phase,” says Van Gucht. “Adenovirus was found in the stool, but that could also be a coincidence. Adenovirus is very common in children. We have asked doctors to report other possible cases as well. It is very likely that several more possible cases will be added in the coming weeks. That is completely in line with our expectations,” said the virologist.
The WHO is also investigating other hypotheses, because an adenovirus infection in healthy children has never led to hepatitis before. For example, the World Health Organization is studying whether increased susceptibility due to a lower circulation of adenoviruses during the corona pandemic, the emergence of a new adenovirus or a combination with an infection with the coronavirus could be the cause.
No connection has been found with any of the corona vaccines. So far, no other epidemiological risk factor, such as a recent trip abroad, has been identified either.
What is hepatitis and what are the symptoms?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is an organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood and makes toxic substances harmless. The first symptoms of acute hepatitis resemble those of stomach flu. “Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. If a child is drowsy, is yellow and has a dark pee, this may indicate inflammation of the liver”, Dutch surgeon Ruben de Kleine explained earlier.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the acute hepatitis that is now circulating in children, says De Kleine. “Because we don’t know the cause, there’s nothing we can do about it.” Seventeen children have now had to undergo a liver transplant.
ALSO READ. Already four liver transplants in children in the Netherlands, mysterious hepatitis “tip of the iceberg”
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