Mysterious Hepatitis Disease Symptoms

After the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected the world, the hepatitis disease of unknown origin, known as mysterious hepatitis, which appeared in children in different countries, causes concern. The exact cause of hepatitis, the etiology of which is unknown, which has been seen in 169 children so far, cannot be determined. However, it is reported that Covid-20 was detected in 19 of the patients and adenovirus was detected in 74 of the patients. Especially after changing the diaper of children with diarrhea, washing hands with soap and water, paying attention to respiratory hygiene and avoiding contact with sick people are among the main precautions to be taken.

Pediatric Infectious Diseases Specialist Prof. from Memorial Ataşehir Hospital, Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Ahmet Soysal gave information about hepatitis disease, the cause of which is unknown.

First appeared in Scotland

At the beginning of April, hepatitis disease of unknown cause, which first appeared in 13 children in Scotland with the complaints of vomiting and abdominal pain without fever, reached a level that caused concern in a short time. In its report published on April 23, the World Health Organization announced that there are 169 cases of hepatitis in children with unknown factors in the world. Liver transplantation was performed in approximately 17 of children with hepatitis of unknown cause in England-Northern Ireland, Spain, Israel, USA, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, France, Romania and Belgium. This equates to approximately 10 percent, a rate that can be considered high for acute hepatitis cases.

Adenovirus suspected

In hepatitis, which is characterized by very high liver enzymes, jaundice is observed in children. It should be emphasized that common hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D or hepatitis E were not detected in 169 sick children. About 10 percent of hepatitis, the etiology of which is unknown in children, has a severe course. In studies, adenovirus was detected in 169 of 74 pediatric patients and Covid-20 was detected in 19. A subtype called adenovirus -18 was also detected in 41 of the children with adenovirus. The fact that none of the reported sick children was vaccinated against Covid -19 also reveals that the emerging hepatitis disease is not related to the vaccine. The high rate of adenovirus in sick children raises suspicion in this direction. However, adenovirus that occurs in previously healthy children is generally defined as a self-limiting disease. There are 80 known subtypes of adenoviruses. Adenovirus 41 type is a virus that often causes diarrhea and vomiting in children, and it can also cause signs of upper respiratory tract infection. This virus, which has a benign course in healthy children, has not led to a hepatitis picture that will lead to liver transplantation in healthy children without chronic diseases. It is also noteworthy that none of the children had a travel history in hepatitis, the cause of which has not been determined, among children aged 1 month to 16 years.

Watch out for these signs

Hepatitis disease, the cause of which cannot be determined, mostly occurs with the complaints of vomiting and abdominal pain without fever. Attention is drawn to the increase in the rate of adenovirus in this hepatitis disease, which has not been considered an epidemic until now. Adenoviruses, consisting of more than 80 viruses, can affect all systems. Adenovirus can cause different complaints in patients. Adenoviruses, which manifest themselves as conjunctivitis (red eye disease) in some patients, fever and otitis media in some patients; It can cause severe pictures such as pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hemorrhagic cystitis, meningitis.

Do not neglect hygiene

Paying attention to the hygiene rules is one of the main precautions to be taken in the mysterious hepatitis disease, which causes concern every day because the cause is not known exactly. In particular, hand hygiene (washing hands with soap and water), cleaning the surfaces that the sick person comes into contact with, and respiratory hygiene (covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing and coughing, airing the rooms frequently) should not be neglected. It is important to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after changing the diaper of children with diarrhea. Close contact with sick people should be avoided. The main issues that parents should pay particular attention to are the change in the color of the stool and urine of the children, and the yellowness of the eyes and skin. In case of these symptoms, liver functions should be examined in detail and hepatitis test should be performed.