Unexplained Pediatric Hepatitis in the US... CDC Under Investigation

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on the 6th (local time) that it is investigating 9 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children and 100 similar cases reported.

According to U.S. media including The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), cases of acute hepatitis in children have occurred since October last year in 25 U.S. states including New York, California, Florida, Texas, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Jay Butler, CDC Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, stated that 5 people have died following infection. Over 90% of patients were hospitalized, and 14% underwent liver transplants. Notably, more than half were confirmed to be infected with adenovirus.

Hepatitis is commonly caused by viral infections or alcohol consumption. Mild infections can occur in young people due to viral infections or reactions to certain medications. Experts explain that infections in children tend to be mild and often go unnoticed. However, in severe cases, it can lead to liver dysfunction and may require liver transplantation.

Besides the United States, over 200 infection cases have been identified worldwide in recent months, including in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The UK Health Security Agency announced on the 3rd that 163 cases of hepatitis in children have been confirmed in the country. Most are children under 5 years old, with no deaths reported, and 11 have received liver transplants, according to the agency.

Health authorities have advised parents to closely monitor their children's symptoms. Recent reported cases show pale stool color, dark urine, nausea and vomiting, fever, joint pain, and jaundice.

Additionally, since adenovirus is transmitted through direct contact and droplets, if adenovirus is confirmed as the cause of these cases, it is advised that children wear masks in indoor public places to help prevent spread.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.