What do experts say about hepatitis rise in young children and could it be down to lockdown?
As we outlined below, the medical world is trying to get to the bottom of a rise in acute hepatitis cases among children under 10.
The data gathered has suggested that the rise may be linked to a group of viruses called adenoviruses.
Of 53 cases tested, 40 (75%) showed that adenovirus was the most common pathogen detected. But these adenoviruses usually cause mild flu-like symptoms and not acute liver failure.
So, a “co-factor” could be in play, says Dr Meera Chand – who is heading the UK Health Security Agency’s investigation into the rise in cases.
She said one explanation was the virus may be hitting young children hardest because lockdown restrictions meant they were not exposed to it in their early years.
This suggests “a susceptibility factor – so lack of prior exposure of that particular age group during the formative stages that they’ve gone through during the pandemic”.
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