This is what we know: At least 650 children across 33 countries have been diagnosed with mysterious, acute hepatitis infections since October 2021, roughly one-third of which have been detected in the United States, according to the World Health Organization.
Previously we were led to believe that these infections may be the result of Adenovirus 41.. Since that point, no definitive answers have been presented by health officials.
In a statement issued Friday that seemed to go largely unnoticed over the Memorial Day weekend, WHO officials confirmed that 38 children have required a transplant due to unexplained liver inflammation, nine children have died and the largest share of the confirmed infections were diagnosed between April 5 and May 26..
While Monkeypox is spreading (we are told sexually at this point) and getting all the headlines, this acute hepatitis issue seems particularly more dangerous for children than any virus in recent memory, including COVID..
Many of the children who have this are too young to have received a COVID vaccine.
Here are some more facts we know:
Data compiled by the agency have now documented (so far) all known cases between October 1, 2021, and May 2022..
The numbers showcase that the United Kingdom has confirmed the highest number of cases at 222, followed closely by the United States with 216.
There are further outbreaks in Japan, Spain and Italy.
Of the 181 cases tested for adenovirus, typically associated with the common cold, 60% were positive, while 12% of the 188 children tested for COVID-19 were positive, the network reported. CBS news reports that the WHO calls this a “moderate” issue at this point.
The WHO also said that COVID was not airborne and not to shut down planes from China prior to the virus becoming a deadly global pandemic. Just saying.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parents should watch for the following symptoms of acute hepatitis:
- fever
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- dark urine
- light-colored stools
- joint pain
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
Many of the symptoms are normal every day kid things, but the others including dark urine, fever, and jaundice are obviously recognizable.
We will continue following..
