Dogs or paracetamol could be cause of mysterious hepatitis outbreak in kids, experts warn
HAVING a pet dog or taking paracetamol could be triggering mysterious cases of hepatitis in kids, health chiefs have warned.
Official data shows that 163 children in the UK have contracted the illness, with 11 needing a liver transplant.
No children have died in the UK from the condition, and it's thought that globally there are now over 250 cases.
Medics have now warned that cases of the illness are more prevalent in households where there are dogs.
In 92 cases across the UK, 64 postives were in children who were from dog owning families or who had been exposed to dogs, data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states.
Medics are now exploring this link but highlight that this may be due to high levels of dog ownership in the UK.
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It was also found that three quarters of respondents had mentioned using paracetamol.
Fewer reported ibuprofen use and none reported aspirin use.
The prevalence of paracetamol use is considered consistent with guidance on management of acute illness in children, the experts said.
Investigations into the condition have included interviews with parents and questionnaires sent to families that have been affected.
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Earlier this week the World Health Organisation said there were 230 kids across the globe with the illness.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and is usually caused by hepatitis virus, A,B,C,D or E.
None of the children in the UK have tested positive for these strains, and none are thought to be immunocompromised.
British health officials said the odds of a child developing hepatitis remains “extremely low”, but parents should know the symptoms.
The key signs you need to look out for are:
- 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
Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA said parents still need to be alert of the key signs.
"Particularly jaundice, look for a yellow tinge in the whites of the eyes – and contact your doctor if you are concerned.
“Our investigations continue to suggest that there is an association with adenovirus and our studies are now testing this association rigorously.
"We are also investigating other contributors, including prior SARS-COV-2, and are working closely with the NHS and academic partners to understand the mechanism of liver injury in affected children.”
Medics said the invetigation into the cause is still ongoing and that the adenovirus is the most frequently detected virus in samples tested.
However, they highlighted that it's not common that this would cause hepatitis.
Adenoviruses are commonly spread by close personal contact, respiratory droplets and surfaces.
There are more than 50 types of adenoviruses, which most commonly cause the common cold.
But early evidence suggests children with hepatitis had been infected with adenovirus type 41 that causes symptoms of tummy pains, vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea.
This comes before signs of liver inflammation, which may include jaundice - yellowing of the skin and eyes.
The most common signs of the virus are:
- 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.
Less common signs include bladder inflammation or infection and issues that affect that brain or spinal cord.
Hepatitis is a rare side effect.
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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.
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