Hepatitis Cases in Children Draw Concern in USA

Some severe cases of childhood hepatitis reported in the United States have caused great concern among health authorities and parents, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has excluded Covid-19 as a factor in these cases. 

From October 2021 to February 2022, nine cases of severe childhood hepatitis were reported in Alabama, and seven girls and two boys aged 1 to 6 years were reported, according to reports.

All blood samples from 9 children were adenovirus positive. According to a recent report from the CDC, none of them had a history of Covid-19 infection and had not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

The CDC stated that adenovirus may be the cause of these reported cases, but other potential environmental and situational factors are still under investigation.

The Tennessee Department of Health said there were six cases. State health officials in Georgia and New York also said they were investigating a handful of potential causes.

According to the CDC, adenovirus is recognized as the cause of hepatitis in children with weakened immunity and may be the "underrecognized" cause of liver damage in healthy children. The World Health Organization is urging doctors around the world to pay attention to cases of such abnormal hepatitis.