Another 18 British children are attacked by a mysterious hepatitis “of unknown origin”
- It brings the UK total to 240 since the first one was detected in January
- 170 cases were in England, 32 in Scotland, 21 in Northern Ireland and 17 in Wales.
- The main theory is that a strain of the common cold has become more severe
By Connor Boyd, Mailonline’s Deputy Health Editor
Posted: 18:05, June 9, 2022 | Updated: 6:52 PM, June 9, 2022
18 more British children have fallen ill with the mysterious hepatitis that has caused a wave of cases around the world.
Health officials announced the new cases today, bringing the UK’s cumulative total to 240 since the first was detected in January.
Of the confirmed patients, 170 were in England, 32 in Scotland, 21 in Northern Ireland and 17 in Wales.
They are found predominantly in children under five, but a “small number” of children over 10 have also been eliminated.
Scientists do not yet know what is causing the life-threatening liver disease, but they say the main culprit is a common cold strain.
A leading theory is that children’s immune systems have weakened due to blockages and school closures during the pandemic.
The complication has been detected in about 650 children in Europe, the United States, South America, the Middle East and Asia.
At least a dozen young people have died and dozens of children have needed liver transplants. No children have died in the UK.
Mysterious hepatitis has been detected in the United States, Western Europe, and a handful of other countries. Globally, at least 12 young people have died and dozens needed liver transplants
Announcing the new cases today, Dr Sophia Makki, Incident Director at the UK Health Safety Agency, said: The likelihood of children developing hepatitis remains very low.
“Maintaining normal hygiene measures, including making sure children wash their hands properly regularly, helps reduce the spread of many common infections, including adenovirus.”
Normal culprits – hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses – have been excluded from the results of recent laboratory tests.
Experts are now working on the theory that they are triggered by a group of viruses that commonly cause the common cold, known as adenoviruses.
It is unclear whether a mutated strain of adenovirus has evolved to become more severe or whether the lack of social contact during the pandemic has made children more vulnerable to existing strains.
Dr Makki: “We continue to remind everyone to be alert for signs of hepatitis, especially jaundice, look for a yellow tone in the whites of the eyes, and contact your doctor if you are concerned.”
UKHSA officials said there was no evidence that the Covid vaccine was involved, as most cases were in children under the age of five, who had not been stung.
They are due to publish a preliminary report of conclusions next week.
Symptoms of the complication usually begin with diarrhea or illness. Then it can cause the skin and eyes to turn yellow.
The United States has reported 216 cases in 37 states, with Mississippi and Utah being the latest to be added to the growing list.
No new deaths or liver transplants have been reported in the past seven days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed in its weekly update, with the remaining totals at 14 and six, respectively.
The agency has not disclosed where the fatalities occurred due to “confidentiality issues,” but at least one was reported to Wisconsin health officials in the state.
Globally, the UK has now recorded the highest number of fatalities and suspicious cases in any nation, although this may be due to stronger surveillance than other nations.
Top experts fear health officials may not understand what lies behind this quirky pattern, which has sickened at least 520 children worldwide for months since March.
Although mild inflammation of the liver is not uncommon in children, serious illness as seen in these cases is.
The mysterious inflammation of the liver has also been more than 200 cases in the US in 37 states.
Globally, the UK has now recorded the highest number of fatalities and suspicious cases in any nation, although this may be due to stronger surveillance than other nations.
Q&A: What is the mysterious global hepatitis outbreak and what’s behind it?
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is usually caused by a viral infection or liver damage from drinking alcohol.
Some cases resolve on their own, with no ongoing problems, but some can be fatal, forcing patients to need liver transplants to survive.
What are the symptoms?
People with hepatitis usually have fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, and joint pain.
They may also suffer from jaundice, when the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow.
Why do experts care?
Hepatitis is usually rare in children, but experts have already detected more cases in the current outbreak than would normally be expected in a year.
The cases are of “unknown origin” and are also serious, according to the World Health Organization.
What are the main theories?
Weakened immunity
British experts in charge of investigating the series of diseases believe that the endless cycle of blockages could have played a contributing role.
Restrictions may have weakened children’s immunity due to the reduced social mix, leaving them at increased risk for adenovirus.
This means that even “normal” adenovirus could be causing serious results, because children do not respond to it as they did in the past.
Adenovirus mutation
Other scientists said it could have been the adenovirus that has acquired “unusual mutations”.
This would mean that it could be more transmissible or more able to prevent children’s natural immunity.