By Jim Reed and Philippa Roxby<\/strong> Health officials are continuing to investigate a sudden surge in cases of hepatitis or liver inflammation among young children in the UK and around the world. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Several possible causes are being looked at, but it looks likely that a common virus which usually causes colds, vomiting and diarrhoea has a role to play<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A return to normal social mixing after the pandemic could also be a factor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Hepatitis is the catch-all term to describe inflammation of the liver tissue. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It is often caused by a viral infection – but also by exposure to some chemicals, alcohol, drugs and certain genetic disorders. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The most common forms of hepatitis – known as A to E – are caused by specific viral infections. However, those viruses have not been detected in these cases in children.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Scientists are now focusing on one particular adenovirus as the underlying cause but it doesn’t usually cause severe hepatitis, so there must be something else going on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A “signal” indicating a small but unusual rise in cases in previously healthy young children was first picked up in Scotland.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n That triggered an investigation by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) which has now looked back at hospital admissions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since January. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It is now looking into at least 163 cases in children under 10, with the majority children younger than five years old.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n They had initial symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea followed by yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, called jaundice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Of the confirmed cases, 118 live in England, 22 in Scotland, 13 in Wales and 10 in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Most have a mild form of the condition, although 11 have needed a liver transplant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n After the UK started reporting a sharp rise in cases of acute severe hepatitis, although in relatively small numbers, awareness increased in other countries and they also started looking for the same condition in children. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n As of 1 May, at least 228 probable cases of hepatitis in 20 countries have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). It says another 50 cases are under investigation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The majority have been detected in Europe, including Ireland and the Netherlands, but some are also in the Americas, the western Pacific and south-east Asia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The death of one child from hepatitis has been reported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Scientists are still investigating if there has been a rise in hepatitis in children or an increase in awareness of these hepatitis cases which would go undetected in a normal year. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n But there is no reason to believe the rare liver condition itself is spreading around the world – it’s simply being spotted in children in different countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Scientists are looking at adenovirus which was detected in around three-quarters of the UK children with confirmed hepatitis who were tested.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Adenoviruses are usually spread by close personal contact and can cause sickness, diarrhoea and colds. There are more than 50 types.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n One particular type called F41 is interesting scientists. Genetic analysis has also detected another virus called AAV2 in some samples. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Health officials believe adenovirus is likely to be making a comeback after virtually disappearing during the first year of the pandemic, or it may have developed a different strain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Its impact on young children’s immune systems, who have no previous exposure to adenovirus or protection against it, could to be behind the current surge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Lab data in the UK shows that common viruses are now spreading in children, particularly the under-fives, at a higher level than in previous years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n UK health officials say the likelihood of your child developing hepatitis is “extremely low”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n They say any children with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea should stay at home until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n And making sure children wash their hands thoroughly can help to reduce the spread of lots of common infections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n No – none of the children had been vaccinated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Covid vaccines are only available from five years old in the UK, meaning many of the children diagnosed with hepatitis would not have been eligible. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Around 16% of cases were positive for coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) when admitted to hospital, but because there was lots of Covid around at the time, health officials say this is not unexpected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n UK health officials say they are looking at previous Covid infections in the children affected as well as the possible emergence of a new variant of adenovirus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It says it is continuing to investigate a wide range of other infections and causes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Studies suggest small numbers of babies and children infected with Covid have needed treatment for hepatitis in other countries such as the US<\/a> as well as Brazil<\/a> and also India.<\/a> In most of those cases, the patients recovered quickly and were discharged in days.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Parents, GPs and other healthcare workers have been asked to look out for the symptoms of jaundice, a yellow tinge to the skin and other parts of the body, which is most easily seen in the whites of the eyes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Other symptoms of hepatitis in children include: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Health reporters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n![\"Stock](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/14BB6\/production\/_124081948_newgetty.jpg\")
<\/span>Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhat is hepatitis? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
How do you get hepatitis?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
How were these cases spotted? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
How many children are affected worldwide?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What could be causing this? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What is the risk?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Could this be something to do with Covid vaccinations? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What about a Covid infection itself? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What should parents look out for? <\/span><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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