Parents and guardians in Ireland are being urged to watch out for the signs and symptoms of hepatitis in children after an outbreak of a mystery strain that is killing children.
Health officials in Indonesia have confirmed the deaths of three children from the disease, raising the global death toll to at least four.
As of today, almost 230 cases of the unexplained liver inflammation have been detected in children across 20 countries, including Ireland, according to the World Health Organisation.
READ MORE: Symptoms of mystery hepatitis strain that has killed at least one child as Ireland confirms cases
Of those, at least four children have died and more than a dozen became so ill that they needed liver transplants.
The HSE has confirmed less than five cases of “hepatitis of unknown cause” in children in Ireland over the past two months, while a further "small number of possible cases” are also being investigated.
Ireland's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) issued an update on Thursday saying: "Over the past eight weeks, a small number (less than five) of children with hepatitis of unknown cause have been identified in Ireland and a small number of possible cases are being investigated. This is more than would usually be expected over this period of time.
"The children affected have no links to the other children involved. To date no single virus has been identified in the cases. Investigations are currently ongoing to identify the cause of these illnesses.
"The common viruses that cause hepatitis (hepatitis viruses A, B, C, and E) have not been detected in any of the cases. Other possible causes of the hepatitis, including adenovirus infection, are currently being investigated. GPs and paediatric consultants are aware of the recent increase in cases of hepatitis amongst children and will be alert to identify any further cases that may develop."
Signs and symptoms to look out for
The HSE has urged parents and guardians to be aware of symptoms of the mystery illness in children, which can include:
- muscle and joint pain
- a high temperature
- feeling and being sick
- feeling unusually tired all the time
- a general sense of feeling unwell
- loss of appetite
- tummy pain
- dark urine
- pale, grey-coloured poo
- itchy skin
- yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
The HPSC issued the following advice:" Parents are advised to go to their GP if their child develops symptoms of hepatitis. The GP will assess the child and refer on for further assessment as indicated.
"If your child is unwell with respiratory or diarrheal or hepatitis symptoms keep your child at home and do not send to crèche/preschool/school until they are better.
"Good respiratory and hand hygiene, including supervising hand washing in young children, can help to prevent adenovirus and other infections that can cause hepatitis."
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