Beijing, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The British Health Security Agency said on the 21st that 34 cases of childhood hepatitis of unknown etiology were found in the United Kingdom, bringing the total number of similar cases in the United Kingdom to 108, of which 8 people have received liver transplants due to their serious illness.
A child watches a St. Patrick's Day parade in London, England, on March 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Ying
British media quoted data from the British Health Security Agency to report that most of the patients are under the age of 5, with 79 cases in England, 14 in Scotland, and the rest in Wales and Northern Ireland. All patients were sent to the hospital for treatment between January and April 12 this year.
The United Kingdom reported to the World Health Organization on the 5th of this month 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis in children in Scotland. Three days later, the number of such cases reported nationwide in the UK increased to 74. According to the communiqué issued by WHO on the 15th, the clinical syndrome of the above cases is manifested as acute hepatitis, with significant elevation of transaminases, usually accompanied by jaundice, and sometimes with gastrointestinal symptoms.
The cause of this hepatitis is unclear. WHO said that after laboratory analysis, the possibility that these cases were caused by hepatitis A, B, C, D and E has been ruled out, and the new crown virus or adenovirus has been detected from some case samples. The UK Health Safety Agency said cases of hepatitis in children of unknown etiology in the UK were not related to the COVID-19 vaccine because none of the children had been vaccinated against COVID-19.
An ambulance pulls into Churchill Road leading to Jenner Institute at Oxford University, Uk. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Tim Ireland)
Meanwhile, UK Health Security Agency data shows that 77% of cases test positive for adenovirus. Mira Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the UK Health Safety Service, said: "The data we have collected through surveys is increasingly clear that this (hepatitis) is linked to adenovirus infection. However, we are thoroughly investigating other possible factors. ”
Adenovirus infection is more common, mainly in children, adults can also be infected, the transmission route is mainly respiratory droplet transmission and contact transmission. Dozens of adenoviruses are known, many of which are associated with cold symptoms, fever, sore throat, etc., and some adenoviruses may trigger gastrointestinal inflammation. Cases of hepatitis in children caused by adenovirus have been previously reported, most commonly in immunocompromised children.
The British "Daily Telegraph" quoted Zania Stamataki, a researcher of viral immunology at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, as reporting that the possibility of new variants of adenovirus causing liver damage in children cannot be ruled out, "but we need to know more to be sure."
According to Reuters reported on the 21st, in addition to the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands and other countries have also reported cases of hepatitis in children of unknown cause. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is working with european counterparts to identify the cause as early as possible. (Qiao Ying)