The number of cases of hepatitis among children under the age of 10 being investigated has risen to 114
(Picture: PA Wire)A “worrying” rise in cases of hepatitis in children could have been brought on by Covid lockdowns.
The number of investigated cases of “acute hepatitis of unknown origin” in children under the age of 10 has risen to 114, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Public health officials said a lack of exposure to common infections during children’s “formative” years, due to social distancing and lockdown restrictions, may explain the global outbreak in cases of the disease that has killed one child worldwide.
Dr Meera Chand - who is leading the UKHSA’s investigation into the rise in cases - told a briefing that children were not being exposed to the virus in their early years due to lockdown restrictions.
A lack of social mixing could be a factor in why it was hitting their age-group the hardest.
This suggested “a susceptibility factor - so lack of prior exposure of that particular age group during the formative stages that they've gone through during the pandemic”, she said.
The outbreak has seen as many cases detected in the past three months as we would normally expect to see in a year.
Cases are mainly in children under five who have displayed initial symptoms of diarrhoea and nausea, followed by jaundice - a condition in which the skin and eyes yellow, tell-tale signs the liver is struggling.
The number of children in the UK who have required a liver transplant has risen to 10.
The agency said there is no link to the Covid vaccine as none of the currently confirmed cases in under 10s in the UK are known to have been vaccinated.
Aikaterini Mougkou, from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, said the emerging trends were “really worrying”.
Three-quarters of cases in the UK have been linked to adenoviruses, a viral infection which usually causes the common cold.
It appeared to reflect a rise in cases of adenovirus after restrictions were eased, she said.
“Because of the physical distancing restrictions during the pandemic, there were only a few cases in 2020 and 2021,” she added.
“But there was the high circulation in the beginning of 2022, especially in the age group under five.”
Dr Chand, the UKHSA’s director of clinical and emerging infections, added: “Information gathered through our investigations increasingly suggests that this rise in sudden onset hepatitis in children is linked to adenovirus infection. However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.
“Parents and guardians should be alert to the signs of hepatitis (including jaundice) and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned.
“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.
“Children experiencing symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection including vomiting and diarrhoea should stay at home and not return to school or nursery until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.”
In total, 169 children across 12 countries have been diagnosed since last October, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced.
At least one child has died from the illenss, the WHO added. There are no reported deaths linked to this outbreak in the UK.
