PARENTS have been urged to look out for signs of hepatitis as the illness spreads to Asia.
Globally, 190 mystery cases of the liver condition have been reported – 110 of which are in the UK.
It has caused 17 kids to become so ill they need liver transplants, and one child outside the UK has sadly died, as experts scramble to understand what has sparked it.
Cases have been found in the UK, Europe, the US and Israel and now health officials in Japan have also reported an incident.
The Japanese health ministry said the child has not had a liver transplant but did not give any more details.
In Canada, officials are also investigating cases, although medics have not disclosed the number of infections that have been reported.
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Currently scientists think the most likely cause is an adenovirus – common viruses that cause flu-like and gastro symptoms, and usually resolve without any lasting issues.
In kids they generally spark a mild illness, with liver inflammation (hepatitis) rare in healthy youngsters.
Earlier this week it was revealed in a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report, that experts think the adenovirus type 41F could be to blame.
Many of the infections involve this bug, which usually causes diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.
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The report said: "Preliminary typing of the adenovirus has been consistent with type 41F where data is available from blood samples, however other adenovirus types have also been identified in non-blood samples."
Routine data scans had picked up common viruses circulating in children are currently higher than in previous years, with a marked increase of adenovirus in the 1-4 age group.
Adenoviruses are common and can cause a range of symptoms in people.
These include:
- common cold and flu symptoms
- fever
- sore throat
- bronchitis
- pneumonia
- conjunctivitis
- gastro issues such as sickness and diarrhoea.
Serious illness is less common with the viruses, but people with weakened immune systems or existing respiratory or cardiac disease are at a higher risk of developing severe symptoms.
Parents and guardians should be alert to the signs of hepatitis (including jaundice) and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned
Less common signs include bladder inflammation or infection and issues that affect that brain or spinal cord.
Hepatitis is a rare side effect.
Hygiene is important when it comes to adenorviruses as they are spread through close personal contact such as touching.
Just like Covid, they can also be spread through coughing and sneezing and by touching surfaces with adenoviruses.
Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: “Information gathered through our investigations increasingly suggests that this rise in sudden onset hepatitis in children is linked to adenovirus infection.
"However, we are thoroughly investigating other potential causes.
The 10 signs of hepatitis you need to know
Hepatitis symptoms include:
- yellowing of the white part of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- dark urine
- pale, grey-coloured faeces (poo)
- itchy skin
- muscle and joint pain
- a high temperature
- feeling and being sick
- feeling unusually tired all the time
- loss of appetite
- tummy pain
“Parents and guardians should be alert to the signs of hepatitis (including jaundice) and to contact a healthcare professional if they are concerned.
"Normal hygiene measures such as thorough handwashing (including supervising children) and good thorough respiratory hygiene, help to reduce the spread of many common infections, including adenovirus.
"Children experiencing symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection including vomiting and diarrhoea should stay at home and not return to school or nursery until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.”
A report from the UKHSA outlined several different reasons for the hepatitis outbreak.
This included a link to the coronavirus lockdowns, which meant that kids had not been exposed to the virus.
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The UKHSA is also investigating whether or not prior Covid infections could be a reason.
It found that 75 per cent of the children with hepatitis also had adenovirus.
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