Eight children have undergone transplant surgery after developing hepatitis, it has been revealed. Experts looking at a sudden rise in the liver disease in children say more than 100 youngsters are now known to have developed sudden onset hepatitis - an inflammation of the liver.
New figures show a further 34 children have been affected taking the total across the UK to 108. Of these eight children have undergone liver transplants, said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA.
The search for the cause is continuing with experts saying it is though it is most likely to be adenovirus infection. Adenoviruses are common viruses that cause a range of illnesses in people from the common cold to stomach bugs.
There is no link to the covid vaccination, said the Agency. None of the affected youngsters are believed to have been vaccinated
Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: "We are working with the NHS and public health colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to swiftly investigate a wide range of possible factors which may be causing children to be admitted to hospital with liver inflammation known as hepatitis.
"Information gathered through our investigations increasingly suggests that this is linked to adenovirus infection. However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.
"Normal hygiene measures such as thorough handwashing (including supervising children) and good thorough respiratory hygiene, help to reduce the spread of many common infections, including adenovirus. We are also calling on parents and guardians, to be alert to the signs of hepatitis (including jaundice) and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned."
So far 79 of the affected youngsters are in England, 14 are in Scotland and the remainder are in Wales and Northern Ireland. All the children affected presented to health services between January 2022 and 12 April 2022.
The UKHSA said the investigation, including information from patient samples and surveillance systems, continued to point towards a link to adenovirus infection. Seventy-seven per cent of cases tested were positive for adenovirus.
However, as it is not usual to see this pattern of disease from adenovirus, it said it was actively investigating other possible contributing factors, such as another infection (including COVID-19) or an environmental cause.
It added: "We are also investigating whether there has been a change in the genome of the adenovirus. UKHSA is working with scientists and clinicians across the country to answer these questions as quickly as possible."
The UKHSA said that adenoviruses are a family of common viruses that usually cause a range of mild illnesses – including colds, vomiting and diarrhoea – and most people recover without complications. While they do not typically cause hepatitis, it is a known rare complication of the virus.
Adenoviruses are commonly passed from person to person and by touching contaminated surfaces. They can also be caught though the “respiratory route”, the agency said.
Hepatitis symptoms
– dark urine
– pale, grey-coloured poo
– itchy skin
– yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
– muscle and joint pain
– a high temperature
– feeling and being sick
– feeling unusually tired all the time
– loss of appetite
– tummy pain
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