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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Lynn Love

Four-year-old Lanarkshire girl in hospital with hepatitis as mum shares warning signs

A four-year-old Lanarkshire girl is in hospital after being diagnosed with hepatitis.

Worried mum Chloe Benham feared little Madison would need a liver transplant after doctors broke the news last week.

The 24-year-old revealed she took her daughter to her GP at Clyde View Medical Practice last week after her dad noticed her urine was dark brown, the Daily Record reports.

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When her sample produced an abnormal result, blood was taken to check her liver function and she was admitted to Wishaw General Hospital, where she is still being treated.

Chloe was stunned by the diagnosis and has no idea how she contracted the virus.

She told the Record: "It came as a shock. We knew absolutely nothing about hepatitis.

"It was so unexpected, so I felt really stressed and confused as to how she had contracted it.

"We had taken her to the GP because her dad noticed her urine was brown and we knew something must have been wrong.

"She had been sick on and off for the last few weeks, but apart from that she was her usual happy self."

Little Madison was rushed to hospital where the GP's diagnosis was confirmed (Daily Record)

Madison's liver enzyme levels were significantly elevated and doctors are still attempting to get them to return to a normal level.

The youngster is now suffering from jaundice and is having to have daily blood tests to monitor her liver's function.

Mum Chloe said she doesn't know how long Madison will remain in hospital as medics continue to observe her condition and any long term damage.

She added: "Doctors said that she is over the worst but I can't help but worry.

"I now know if hepatitis goes undetected it can cause liver failure, so we were worried she would need a transplant.

"It's absolutely terrifying being in a situation like this, especially with no treatment for it.

"The doctor still doesn't know how this has happened.

"I'm just so glad we got her bloods checked when we did and she's now in the right place getting the help she needs."

Last month, The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced the launch of an investigation into a hepatitis outbreak in children under 10 across the UK.

On May 20, Public Health Scotland (PHS) confirmed a total of 26 cases of hepatitis had been reported, taking the total number of UK cases to 197.

The majority of the cases worldwide have been reported in the UK and the World Health Organization (WHO) said there were now 348 probable cases globally.

PHS said the most common hepatitis symptoms of the children affected are jaundice and vomiting.

If a child shows signs of jaundice, where there is a yellow tinge in the whites of the eyes or on the skin, then parents should contact their GP or other Health Care professional.

Other symptoms can include dark urine, pale grey coloured poo, itchy skin, muscle and joint pains, tiredness, feeling sick, a high temperature, loss of appetite and stomach pain.

The most probable cause of the outbreak is a strain of adenovirus called F41, reports the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as the usual viruses that cause infectious hepatitis (hepatitis A to E) have not been detected.

Chloe added: "I want to make parents aware of the symptoms of hepatitis, so they can get their kids checked before it progresses."

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