Due to the unusually high incidence of acute hepatitis in children in United Kingdom, Greece’s health care organization EODY issued an announcement on Monday in which it calls on clinical doctors in the country to be vigilant. There have been no cases of the pediatric hepatitis, so far, EODY stated.
Reports say the UK has detected severe cases of hepatitis in children, including in the US and Europe. The US CDC said it was investigating cases in Alabama, including in other states. Spanish media reported that children aged 2 to 7 had contracted the disease.
Nine children in Alabama, 3 in Spain, and at least 74 in Scotland and Northern Ireland have been sickened with acute hepatitis since January, reports the University of Minnesota.
EODY Announcement
“So far, no increase in cases of hepatitis in children has been reported in Greece, but clinicians are urged to be vigilant for this emerging condition, to be vigilant for the early detection of children up to 16 years old, who show signs and symptoms of hepatitis, without a clear reason and in such a case to immediately inform EODY,” the announcement said.
It added that “EODY closely monitors the development of the situation, is in systematic communication with the European Public Health Institutions, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and has already informed all the Health Regions of the country. , the Panhellenic Medical Association as well as the Scientific Societies whose members may face similar incidents.”
Referring to the acute hepatitis in children in UK, EODY noted that “in no case was hepatitis virus (A to E) isolated and no epidemiological correlation with travel was observed. The clinical syndrome occurs in children up to 16 years of age, mainly 2-5 years old, and includes severe acute hepatitis with markedly elevated transaminases, often with jaundice. In children up to 10 years of age, gastrointestinal symptoms, usually vomiting, often preceded by jaundice..
As of April 8, 2022, 74 cases had been identified in the United Kingdom. Some cases required transfer to specialized pediatric hepatology units and six (6) children underwent liver transplantation. According to reports from the special units, as of April 11, no deaths have been recorded.
The hepatitis viruses (A to E) have been excluded from the laboratory test performed so far, while in some cases SARS-CoV-2 virus and / or adenovirus have been detected, but the role of of these viruses in the pathogenesis of hepatitis showing the reported cases. Therefore, the underlying cause of this increase, from the beginning of 2022, remains currently unknown. Further laboratory investigation of the identified cases for additional infections, chemical agents and toxins is in progress.
EODY announcement in Greek here
WHO announcement on UK cases here
