According to the World Health Organization, an unexplained incidence of acute hepatitis in children has infected 700 children in 34 countries and claimed ten lives (WHO).
The etiology of the liver ailment, which was first discovered in the UK in April, is still unclear, perplexing scientists. So far, no evidence of the five viruses that typically cause hepatitis - A, B, C, D, and E - has been found in any of these instances.
Cases of Mysterious Hepatitis Strain Rise
Meanwhile, during the recently concluded World Hepatitis Summit 2022, the World Health Organization and the World Hepatitis Alliance called for efforts to eradicate viral hepatitis.
It is believed that 354 million people worldwide are still infected with this potentially fatal condition, and at least one person dies from viral hepatitis every 30 seconds. That's over a million deaths yearly, more than HIV and malaria together.
At the 2016 International Health Assembly, world leaders announced a historic pledge to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030. Many low- and middle-income nations still lack timely hepatitis B birth dose availability. People continue to be denied access to testing and care due to a lack of understanding, a lack of political commitment, and stigma and prejudice, according to Health World.
The United States has reported 216 occurrences across 37 states, with Mississippi and Utah the most recent additions to the increasing list. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in their weekly update that no new fatalities or liver transplants were reported in the past seven days, bringing the totals to 14 and six, respectively.
According to state health officials, the department has not stated where the fatalities happened due to 'confidentiality concerns,' although at least one was documented in Wisconsin. Globally, the United Kingdom currently has the most fatalities and suspected cases of any nation - albeit this may be due to tighter surveillance than other countries.
Top specialists believe it will take months for health officials to figure out what's causing the strange trend, which has afflicted at least 520 youngsters globally since March. While modest liver inflammation is normal in children, severe diseases, such as those found in these cases, are unusual.
There have been over 200 cases of mystery liver inflammation in the United States, spread across 37 states. Globally, the United Kingdom currently has the most fatalities and suspected cases of any nation - albeit this may be due to tighter surveillance than other countries, as per Daily Mail.
Hepatitis in Kids: Symptoms and Prevention
According to health experts, neither the virus-causing COVID-19 nor the COVID-19 immunizations appear to be a factor in the hepatitis outbreak. However, some scientists believe that a past COVID-19 infection may render certain youngsters more vulnerable to hepatitis.
Hepatitis is a kind of liver inflammation generally caused by a viral infection. The inflammation can cause liver damage, and several victims in this outbreak required a liver transplant to be treated.
According to the CDC, parents should be on the watch for jaundice, which appears as a yellowing of the skin. Parents should also call their child's physician if they detect any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Joint pain
- Light-colored stools
- Dark-colored urine
Staying up to date on vaccines, practicing excellent hand hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding contact with ill individuals, and not touching the nose, eyes, or mouth may all help keep your family safe, Yahoo News reported.
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