Attention: Mysterious Hepatitis Illness

Alert on Mysterious Hepatitis Disease Following the Covid-19 pandemic, a disease known as mysterious hepatitis began appearing in children across different countries. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Soysal, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist at Memorial Ataşehir Hospital's Department of Child Health and Diseases, shared information about the hepatitis disease of unknown etiology. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, mysterious hepatitis disease of unknown cause appearing in children is causing concern. To date, the exact cause of the disease, observed in 169 children, remains unknown. Regarding this mysterious disease, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Ahmet Soysal outlined points requiring attention.  

Approximately 17 Children with Mysterious Hepatitis Underwent Liver Transplantation

The hepatitis disease of unknown etiology first appeared in early April in 13 children in Scotland, presenting with vomiting and abdominal pain without fever. Subsequently, it spread and reached alarming proportions within a short time. The World Health Organization reported on 23 April that there were 169 cases of hepatitis disease of unknown etiology in children worldwide. In England-Northern Ireland, Spain, Israel, the United States, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, France, Romania and Belgium, approximately 17 children with hepatitis of undetermined cause underwent liver transplantation.

Adenovirus Detected in 74 of 169 Child Patients

In 169 children with mysterious hepatitis disease, common hepatitis viruses such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D or Hepatitis E could not be detected. Studies determined that of the 169 child patients, 74 had adenovirus and 20 had Covid-19 virus. The high rate of adenovirus in affected children has directed suspicion in this direction. However, adenovirus that previously appeared in healthy children typically presents as a self-limiting disease. There are 80 known subtypes of adenoviruses, and Adenovirus type 41 is a virus that frequently causes diarrhea and vomiting in children, while also causing upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. One notable finding is that none of the children aged between 1 month and 16 years with hepatitis of undetermined cause to date have had a travel history.

Pay Attention to These Symptoms

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Ahmet Soysal noted that hepatitis disease of undetermined cause manifests primarily with vomiting and abdominal pain without fever. In the statement made, attention was drawn to the increase in adenovirus rates, and it was explained that adenoviruses consisting of more than 80 viruses can affect all systems and can cause different complaints in patients. Adenovirus can manifest in some patients as conjunctivitis (red eye disease), in others as fever and otitis media, and can cause severe conditions such as pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hemorrhagic cystitis and meningitis.

Hygiene Rules Must Be Followed

Attention to hygiene rules is at the forefront of preventive measures that can be taken against mysterious hepatitis disease, which causes growing concern due to its unknown cause. Experts emphasize that special attention must be paid to hand hygiene (washing hands with water and soap), cleaning surfaces contacted by sick persons, and respiratory hygiene (covering mouth and nose with tissue when sneezing and coughing, frequent ventilation of rooms). It is also noted that close contact with sick people should be avoided to prevent virus infection. Among the matters parents should pay special attention to are changes in the color of children's stool and urine, and jaundice appearing in eyes and skin. Should these symptoms appear, liver function should be examined in detail and hepatitis testing should be performed.