Researchers have found a type of hepatitis is affecting children between the ages of 2-5 years of age. Hepatitis is shutting down children’s livers causing liver failure and death. They believe it has something to do with the fact that they have been inside their houses because of COVID-19. This has weakened their immune systems. It’s possible this could be the case because the children are around bacteria.
Lack of being outside and around others could be causing children’s immune systems to become weak. Now they are exposed to everything they are around. Additionally, the fact they cannot get the vaccine due to being so young is having a possible negative impact. Hopefully, researchers can find the cause and put a stop to it, and save the lives of the children who are getting sick from hepatitis. There have already been five cases in the U.S. of children who have lost their lives due to hepatitis in just one week.
Researchers are also trying to figure out where this form of hepatitis is coming from, and what is causing it. It is not coming from COVID, they have tested it. There are 450 cases of this strain of hepatitis. Currently, they do not know how it came about or where it came from. People are having to get their children tested and they do not want to wait. Five children have passed away and 104 t have had liver transplants.
Researchers believe it is caused by a virus called the adenovirus because they are coming back positive for having adenovirus. It is causing the liver to shut down and everything associated with the liver is being affected. The new form of hepatitis that is going around is only affecting children under the age of five. Researchers feel maybe it is the physical contact they are having with people they are around.
This form of hepatitis is causing symptoms similar to the flu and the common cold. Symptoms range from sore throat to fever, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, pink eye (conjunctivitis), bronchitis, or in some cases, a bladder infection. Experts say it is typically contracted by personal contact. There is no known connection to COVID. Of the known cases of hepatitis, there has been no evidence of active COVID infections.
Parents need to make sure their children are up to date on all their vaccines and watch out for the signs of hepatitis. There are signs of children having fever, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
There are also some parents who need to be tested as well because people can have hepatitis and not have any symptoms. Authorities are telling parents to be cautious about who they are around because they have children who are at the age of those getting infected.
People without children should also be cautious being around people with small children when they are sick. Stay at home and practice frequent handwashing. People must cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Those who may be having symptoms of hepatitis should be tested to be sure.
Written By Niki Jones
Edited by Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
Fox News: How to know if your child has rare hepatitis that’s affecting hundreds of children globally; by Amy McCormey
Yale Medicine: rise of Hepatitis cases in children: What parents need to know
Reuters: Coronavirus may be linked to cases of severe hepatitis in children; by Nancy Lapid
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of Anton Diaz‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inline Image Courtesy of Thomas Hawk’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
