Acute hepatitis in children: three new deaths, WHO lists nearly 230 probable cases worldwide

Cases are increasing around the world, but their origin still remains unknown.

The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to receive dozens of reports of cases of hepatitis in children, with a total of nearly 230 probable cases worldwide, it said on Tuesday.

“Thus, as of May 1, at least 228 probable cases have been reported to WHO in 20 countries, and more than 50 other cases are under investigation,” detailed WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. , during a press briefing by UN agencies in Geneva.

“These cases were reported by four of our six WHO regions,” he added.

The origin of these severe inflammations of the liver remains unknown.

“The explorations of acute hepatitis of unknown origin are complex and sometimes long”, already underlined Public Health France with the Parisian.

Read alsoHepatitis in children: the American authorities favor the track of a virus

The majority of cases have been reported in Europe, first in the United Kingdom.

On April 5, WHO was informed of 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children under 10 in central Scotland.

By April 8, 74 cases had been identified in the UK.

Three Indonesian children have died of a mysterious liver disease, bringing to four the number of children worldwide who have died of acute childhood hepatitis of unknown origin, the Indonesian Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.

The three Indonesian children, aged two, eight and 11, presented with fever, jaundice, convulsions and loss of consciousness, ministry spokeswoman Siti Nadia Tarmizi said.

“We need to confirm that they are not due to the known hepatitis A,B, C, D and Rb viruses,” she added.

So far, at least one death has been reported.

Jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting...

This hepatitis mainly affects children under the age of 10, and is manifested by symptoms such as jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Some cases required liver transplantation.

At least one child has died.

The usual viruses that cause acute viral hepatitis (A to E) were not detected in any of the cases, according to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) and WHO.

An analysis of these mysterious cases of hepatitis in the United States led the health authorities to favor the track of an adenovirus last week without however establishing it as a definitive cause.

Commonplace, adenoviruses are generally rather known to cause respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis or even digestive disorders.

Read alsoAcute hepatitis in children: how scientists track down the origin of these mysterious cases

Transmission occurs by the faecal-oral or respiratory route, with epidemic peaks often in winter and spring, and more often in communities (nurseries, schools, etc.).

The majority of humans are infected before they are 5 years old.

Their role in the development of mysterious hepatitis, however, remains unclear.

Any acute hepatitis in a child under 18 must lead to the realization of a complete etiological assessment, insists this Tuesday the DGS (general directorate of health) in its last urgent.

This assessment must be based on "blood, respiratory, urine and stool samples", she warns.

If the search for adenovirus is then positive, the case is considered possible and must give rise to a report to Public Health France.