International health experts now report an increased incidence of liver disease in the U.K and the U.S. This disease has currently spread in Europe and North America. The health professionals have found the liver disease known as hepatitis, in 74 children during their investigations in January.
Countries with the highest spikes in Europe
The countries in Europe and North America have realised an increasing incidence of hepatitis in children. According to the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the countries with the highest spikes are Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland. However, this report did not specify the infection rates in these countries.
The U.S has confirmed that it has some unusual cases of the disease. The children affected are aged between 1 and 6. Usually, mild hepatitis is common in children as they are exposed to many viruses.
However, the liver inflammation spotted in this disease is unusual. The vases in the UK were often severe and required special care in the liver unit. In some cases, the children would also need liver transplants.
The liver, one of the largest organs in the body, is essential. It plays a role in immunity, processing nutrients like glucose and filtering out unwanted material in the blood. Hepatitis is a viral infection which causes inflammation of the liver.
Adenovirus could be responsible for the outbreak
The symptoms of hepatitis include jaundice, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. This disease requires early treatment. Failure to address it on time could increase the likelihood of mortality.
The researchers still don’t know what could be causing the outbreak. The suspect that the virus responsible is adenovirus though more research is pending to confirm it.
There are many strains of adenovirus. Most strains produce disease with symptoms such as cold, pink eye, fever, and sore throat. The team also tested nine children for the virus, and the results came out positive. Researchers now suspect that the adenovirus strain responsible is adenovirus 41.
Researchers have also tried to find a link between the outbreak and COVID-19. They say they need to carry out genetic analysis to find an association. So far, only a few of the children with hepatitis had COVID-19.
