A mysterious outbreak of severe, life-threatening hepatitis in previously healthy children is puzzling — researchers now believe there are links to the common flu.
According to three independent studies published last week in the journal, there are links between an outbreak of severe hepatitis that affected previously healthy children in 2022, and a common influenza virus.
More than 1,000 children were affected
Between April and July 2022, more than 1,000 children in several different countries — 350 of them in the United States alone — developed hepatitis.
Many of these children suffered from hepatitis with no known underlying cause. Nearly 50 children required liver transplants – and 22 children died, According to the World Health Organization.
affected by the “helper virus”
According to new research, cases of hepatitis may have links to the common childhood virus, AAV2. It’s reports CNN.
This common virus cannot mutate unless it receives “help” from another virus, such as adenovirus or herpes virus. What the researchers found was that of nearly half of all children with acute hepatitis, several were infected with the majority of the “helper viruses.”
Researchers believe this contributed to the worsening course of the disease in the children.
Worse when restrictions were released
Researchers believe that the timing of the outbreak may be related to the fact that pandemic restrictions were lifted last spring and summer.
After living in more or less isolation and being protected from viruses for some time, the children were suddenly exposed to infection and disease again.
Written by German researcher Dr. Frank, thank youin a press release.
Read also: Cases of unexplained hepatitis among children [Dagens PS]
Read also: The sharp increase in acute hepatitis C in children is of concern [Dagens PS]
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