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Acute hepatitis in children of unknown cause
During the covid-19 pandemic, a number of cases of acute hepatitis in children of unknown origin were found in many countries in Europe and the United States.
According to the latest information released by the World Health Organization, more new cases have been reported from more countries since the UK reported the detection of 74 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children on 15 April.
As of 21 April, at least 169 cases of unexplained acute hepatitis in children have been reported from 11 countries in the European region and 1 country in the Americas region. Among them, there are 114 cases in the United Kingdom, 13 cases in Spain, 12 cases in Israel, 9 cases in the United States, 6 cases in Denmark, less than 5 cases in Ireland, 4 cases in the Netherlands, 4 cases in Italy, 2 cases in Norway, 2 cases in France, 1 case in Romania and 1 case in Belgium.
According to reports, all cases were patients between the ages of 1 month and 16 years, about 17 children needed liver transplant treatment, and at least one died. Currently, hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses have been ruled out based on investigations of pre-existing cases, of which at least 74 people have been detected with adenovirus and 20 have been detected infected with the new crown virus. In addition, 19 people are infected with both adenovirus and the new crown virus. However, the role of the virus in pathogenesis is not yet known.
Although adenovirus is currently a major pathogen hypothesis, it does not fully explain the severe hepatitis symptoms in patients. Because adenoviruses rarely cause severe hepatitis in healthy people, severe hepatitis is even rarer in children without severe health.
Adenoviruses are usually only likely to cause hepatitis in immunocompromised patients, and adenoviruses often cause lung and respiratory infections, common cold symptoms, and sometimes pneumonia. One view from experts at the European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is that even if the cause is an adenovirus infection, it may be related to the new crown pandemic. Due to the long-term isolation of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in no exposure to common viruses from the outside world, when masks are removed and isolation is lifted, the resistance to external viruses often becomes fragile.
While it has not yet been determined whether it is directly related to the coronavirus, experts point out that even if the new crown virus is not the root cause of the problem, it is an indirect cause or one of the causes. Over the past two years, children have been relatively well protected, not exposed to the virus, and at the same time reduced their resistance. With unblocking, they may be more severely affected, such as the sudden possibility of contracting multiple viruses.
How to prevent it
Many parents are worried about the sudden emergence of new viruses of unknown origin, and infectious disease experts say that the route of transmission of this type of virus is respiratory droplet transmission (similar to the spread of the new crown), but it is usually transmitted through direct contact. Therefore, developing good health habits such as washing hands frequently and maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene is the best prevention method.
Symptoms of hepatitis include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light stool color, arthralgia, and jaundice. If you have any of the above symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
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Information on the epidemic situation in various countries
Let's turn our attention back to the COVID-19 pandemic.
United States
The new crown epidemic in the United States has become more severe in recent days, and the US federal court and the public health department have set off a "debate" on whether to cancel the restriction order on public transportation masks. The U.S. Department of Justice said on April 20 local time that according to the assessment of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it appealed against the previous judge's rejection of the public transportation mask injunction. According to the CDC, based on current assessments, requiring public transportation to wear masks is necessary for public health. Florida Federal Judge Miszeller rejected the U.S. government's public transportation mask injunction on April 18, saying the injunction was illegal and arguing that the CDC exceeded its statutory powers in issuing the injunction.
On the same day that federal Judge Miseler repudiated the mask injunction, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines announced that passengers could travel domestic flights without wearing masks. On the issue of whether to wear masks on public transportation, some Americans said that the wearing of masks has become a symbolic coercive measure and called for an end to this rule, while another part of the American people said that masks are still necessary protective measures because the new crown virus continues to spread.
United Kingdom
Sky News reported that from April 18, the Scottish region of the United Kingdom no longer requires people to wear masks on public transport and most indoor places. In addition, people who do not develop COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be required to undergo regular antigen testing. However, the Scottish government still advises people to wear masks in certain settings to curb the spread of the new crown virus.
Thailand
From May 1, Thailand will further relax the entry conditions, cancel the nucleic acid testing for entry, and switch to antigenic reagent testing. According to the data of the Trip.com international platform, after the announcement, overseas users visited local hotels in Thailand by 29% compared with the same day last week, and the number of flight bookings in Thailand increased by nearly 20%.
Korea
On April 25, South Korea will downgrade the infection level of the new crown virus, downgrade the infectious disease level of the new crown virus from the highest category A to category B, and comprehensively promote the work of epidemic prevention and the restoration of the medical system, which is also the first downgrade in more than two years. At the same time, the public is allowed to eat in outdoor public places such as theaters and large supermarkets. In addition, the South Korean government will also begin to discuss whether to lift the outdoor wearing of masks.
Source: CCTV News, Surging News, World Health Organization, etc., the pictures originate from the Internet, such as invasion and deletion.
Reporter: Tian Jianghan
Producer: Li Xuan
Editor-in-charge: Yang Dongni