WHAT DOES SCIENCE CLAIM ON "MYSTERIOUS" ACUTE HEPATITIS IN CHILDREN?

Until 07/05/2022, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S, Europe and other countries have recorded 427 cases of idiopathic acute hepatitis in about 30 countries globally, in which at least 5 deaths is noticed. More than 90% of these acute hepatitis cases require hospitalization, and about 14% of severe liver failure, which requires liver transplant to survive. ​  
 
The disease occurs at any age, recorded from 01-month-old to 16 years old. Children often have symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain before manifestation of acute hepatitis present with jaundice and liver enzyme elevation. The special feature is that most children do not have fever and common hepatoviruses such as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. More than 50% of cases of this acute hepatitis have adenovirus infection. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that Adenovirus is the cause of acute hepatitis or co-infection. Several other viruses can also cause acute hepatitis such as EBV, CMV…  ​
 
As the symptoms in the early stages of acute hepatitis are similar to other common pathologies such as digestive disorders, gastroenteritis…, as soon as the child has one of the aforementioned symptoms, parents should take him/her to a medical facility for examination, liver function tests as well as etiological investigation if the child has suspicious manifestations of acute hepatitis, thereby treatment will be given timely, limit the risk of death. ​
 
Pediatrics – Neonatology at AIH provides full of pediatric medical services, including general health check-up, vaccination, children’s physical and mental developments follow-up, nutrition consultation, diagnostic and therapeutic services. ​
 
Outpatient pediatrics at AIH is divided into two separate areas: one for athletic children and another for sick kids in the purpose of patient classification to avoid cross-contamination.  When children arrive hospital with suspicious symptoms, they will be transferred to a separate consulting area, thereby screening and isolation procedures are applied initially.

--------------------