The illness is still very rare but experts aren’t sure what’s happening.
Before you read through this entire article we’ll be honest and tell you up front: no one knows why some kids around the world are now coming down with cases of severe hepatitis. At the time of this writing the cases remain unexplained. The illnesses are very rare but certain characteristics of the appearing cases are leading experts to think this is a worldwide outbreak as some kids have required transplants and others have even died. Here’s what we know.
Almost all the children needed to be hospitalized
Hepatitis happens when an infection causes your liver to swell up. Because your liver filters your blood, helps you fight off infections, and processes nutrients for your body, if it doesn’t work well your health could be in trouble.
So far, the US has seen 109 cases of unexplained severe hepatitis in kids recently. Almost all of the kids known to have fallen sick (90%) needed hospitalization, and 14% needed an emergency liver transplant. Sadly, five children have died from the illness so far.
Doctors and researchers haven’t pinpointed a cause
No one knows what is causing these severe occurrences of hepatitis, and some of the more common causes of viral hepatitis haven’t shown up in any of the cases. It all remains a mystery. At the time of this writing, there are reported cases of severe hepatitis in kids in 25 US states and territories, as well as other cases worldwide. The alarm bells are ringing not just because children have died but also because liver failure, in general, is extremely rare in children.
Some viruses are known to cause hepatitis
Common viruses like Epstein-Barr virus, (the most common type of human herpes), and things like SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, are known to sometimes cause liver inflammation in kids. This generally happens in small bits of the liver, however, and then it goes away. The inflammation doctors are seeing right now is very extreme in contrast, however.
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Some adenoviruses can cause hepatitis, and some of the kids did test positive for adenovirus, but researchers still aren’t sure if they all had the same type. Adenovirus 401 and 41 have been linked to hepatitis in children before, but almost exclusively in those who were immunocompromised and almost all the kids falling sick so far, have been otherwise healthy.
What should you be on the lookout in kids?
The majority of the children who have fallen sick with severe hepatitis recently have been healthy. They’ve had the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Dark urine
- Belly pain
- Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
- Light-colored stool
The CDA issued a statement in late April saying they think adenovirus is causing the illnesses but they’re still investigating other potential causes and casting a broad net.
So far, only about 200 cases have been reported worldwide. This means that, while these cases are in the news, they’re still a very, very rare occurrence. Hopefully, it will stay that way.
photo credits: Tanapat Tong-U/Shutterstock.com
