The number of cases of childhood mystery hepatitis under investigation in Brazil has risen to 64, according to information from the Ministry of Health. In all, the folder received 76 notifications, of which 12 were discarded.
At least 15 states have suspected cases. São Paulo is ahead, with 24 cases, followed by Minas Gerais (8), Rio Grande do Sul (5) and Pernambuco (5). The other states that investigate cases of the disease are Rio de Janeiro (4), Mato Grosso do Sul (3), Santa Catarina (3), Paraná (2), Espírito Santo (2), Goiás (2), Ceará (2) , Rio Grande do Norte (1), Maranhão (1), Roraima (1) and Paraíba (1).
An analysis carried out by the ministry from 45 cases indicates that the average age of children with suspected disease is 7 years, with 54% boys and 46% girls.
As of May 19, there were 47 cases under investigation in Brazil. A few days earlier, on May 14, the Ministry of Health set up a situation room to monitor events and try to investigate possible causes for the disease.
At least two children and young people who had to undergo liver transplants are among the suspected cases of the disease.
A 14-year-old girl received a new liver last Friday (20) after four days in the Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz, in Recife.
The teenager was admitted to the Mestre Vitalino hospital, in Caruaru, about 135 kilometers away, and had to be transferred to the capital due to the evolution of the condition to hepatic encephalopathy, a deterioration of brain functions caused by toxic substances eliminated by the liver but that end up in the bloodstream.
In Rio de Janeiro, among the four suspected cases is a 4-year-old boy who also underwent a transplant due to fulminant hepatitis — a severe inflammation of the liver that progresses quickly and can lead to death. He was operated on at the HEC (State Children’s Hospital).
In both cases, the transplants were successful and the patients have already been discharged.
The Secretary of Health of Rio de Janeiro considers the four cases under investigation in the state as “probable”, but points out that the investigation, still in progress, needs to be confirmed by the Ministry of Health.
Hepatitis and the possible cause
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can have a variety of causes, including viral infections and excessive alcohol consumption. The known viruses that cause hepatitis are A, B, C, D, and E.
Then there is autoimmune hepatitis, in which the body’s own immune system attacks the liver.
Sudden and severe hepatitis in healthy children is not common, and its relationship with other known hepatitis-causing viruses has been ruled out.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) is investigating the association of this new hepatitis with an adenovirus, which are common viruses that cause colds, flu and, in some cases, intestinal and stomach problems.
The UKHSA is investigating whether a change in the adenovirus genome could be responsible for causing the disease. The relationship with Sars-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, has also not been ruled out. Also according to information from the British agency, the adenovirus was detected in 68.2% of the children tested, while Sars-Cov-2 appeared in 15% of the results.
At least 614 cases of mysterious hepatitis and 15 deaths have been recorded worldwide, with 6 in Indonesia, 6 in the US, 1 in Ireland, 1 in Mexico and 1 in Palestine, according to the latest ECDC (European Center for Prevention and Control) of Disease), whose calculation includes investigated, probable and confirmed cases, and the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
In all, 30 countries have already registered cases or have cases under investigation. The United Kingdom has the highest number of records of the disease, with 197. As of May 20, 11 of these children had received liver transplants.
The US has the second highest number of sick children recorded, totaling 180 in 36 states, but like Brazil, it does not confirm the occurrence of the disease, it only indicates that the cases are under investigation.
The ECDC considers Brazil as the country with the highest number of cases in Latin America, adding 44 in the most recent weekly bulletin, updated last Friday (20), however, it emphasizes that the total count includes cases under investigation.
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
