Acute severe hepatitis in kids: As 35 countries report an outbreak, here's what we should know about symptoms, possible causes and steps to manage

In July 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had said that the world is currently facing a new outbreak of “unexplained acute hepatitis infections” affecting children. A hepatitis outbreak has been reported in 35 countries. The first cases of severe acute hepatitis were reported from Scotland in early April this year.

"And from that time, over the last four months, more than a thousand cases have been reported from 35 countries worldwide. The majority of these cases are in young children aged less than five years," says Dr Philippa Easterbrook, Senior Scientist in the Global Hepatitis Programme, HIV department at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

Read: Doctor explains why antibiotics are prescribed when your child is sick and if there are any side effects

With this we need to be attentive about the infection and be well informed about it.

In this article, we will discuss the various symptoms associated with hepatitis in kids, the possible causes and what are the steps that we need to follow to manage the infection.

The acute hepatitis infection that is affecting kids is the inflammation of the liver. More than one thousand cases have been reported from 35 countries so far.

The infection starts with abdominal pain and other symptoms of acute gastroenteritis and rapidly progresses to jaundice and liver damage.

"A distinctive feature of this event has been the rapid progression and the severity of the liver disease in previously healthy children," the WHO expert says and adds that about a third have required intensive care support.

"18 children, that's around 2.5%, died," says Dr Easterbrook.

The common symptoms associated with this hepatitis are:

Pain in the abdomen region

Nausea

Vomiting

Pale stools

Dark urine

Yellowing of skin and/or eyes

Jaundice

Severe liver disease in otherwise healthy kids

"First, that none of the children were infected with the viruses that commonly cause hepatitis, so — hepatitis A, hepatitis B, C or E," explains Dr Easterbrook, and goes on to explain that there was no evidence for a common exposure to foods or water, or to medications or other household members.

More than half of the affected kids tested positive for adenovirus.

On why an adenovirus is causing such a severe disease, Dr Easterbrook explains, that may be due to COVID kids were confined indoors for almost two years and during this time they were not exposed to adenoviruses. This might have increased their susceptibility and sensitivity to the virus. "When these measures were lifted, that's in early this year, there was then an increase of the circulation and transmission of these infections," says Dr Easterbrook.

"A second possible explanation is a role for previous COVID infection. And we know that this was very common in children. Around 70% had evidence of past COVID infection. And it could be that in some of these children who were then exposed to adenovirus, they had a hyper reactive immune response that led to liver inflammation and hepatitis," the expert adds.

“Every 30 seconds, someone dies from hepatitis-related diseases, including liver failure, cirrhosis and cancer,” said the WHO chief addressing a press briefing on World Hepatitis Day. Adding another shocking data to this statement he said that some 80 per cent of people living with the disease are unable to access or afford care.

In 2019, the year before the world was almost crippled by the COVID pandemic, an estimated 78,000 deaths had occurred worldwide due to hepatitis.

The WHO aims to reduce the gap in disease identification and medical treatment availability.

In order to protect their children, parents should be well informed about the disease in order to get timely medical help and check the disease from progressing.

Parents should take note of symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting and should also note the color of the skin and eyes. One of the most prominent signs of the infection is yellowish coloration of the skin and the eyes.

Parents should also be careful about hygiene. Regular washing of hands, covering mouth and nose, wearing a mask and coughing and sneezing on a handkerchief or a napkin or using the elbow should be encouraged among kids. These measures will limit the spread of the adenoviruses.

With schools and educational institutes working in classroom mode, it is very essential for parents to take care of their kids' health. Any sort of symptom should be dealt with carefully.

A doctor's appointment is a must before self-administering any medication.

Timely check up will not only save your own child, it will ensure that others in the same classroom do not get infected. Education suffered a massive hit during the pandemic. A single individual's contribution towards good health will ensure the entire community's good health.