Hepatitis in Children, Infections have certainly taken our society by surprise in the last two years, so much so that we
are witnessing an unanticipated rise in hepatitis cases among children. Acute, severe cases of
hepatitis in children are uncommon and sometimes unexplained. Parents are understandably
anxious after hearing about strange hepatitis cases among children in the news. In this article, we
will look at what we know about the epidemic, hepatitis signs to look out for, and some steps you
can do to help prevent the virus.
What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is basically a liver inflammation. Hepatitis is most usually associated with infection,
however, it can also be caused by an immunological response or a toxin. Hepatitis causes
inflammation of the liver and impairs liver function. Eliminating toxins, breaking down
medications, utilizing basic nutrients such as protein derivatives, and storing energy in the form
of glycogen are just a few of the many damaged functions that occur during Hepatitis.
How Many Different Types of Hepatitis Are Out There?
Hepatitis is classified into three types: infectious, autoimmune, and alcoholic. Hepatitis is most
usually caused by viruses such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis D.
Autoimmune hepatitis is significantly less common.
What Are The Symptoms?
The following are some of the symptoms of hepatitis:
● Fever
● Vomiting
● Nausea
● Abdominal pain and diarrhea
● Loss of appetite
● Dehydration
● Jaundice
● Dark urine
● Light-colored stools
● Fatigue
● Joint pain
Is There a New Variant of Hepatitis Affecting Children?
What Are The Most Common Types of Hepatitis Affecting
Children?
The most prevalent types of hepatitis in children are those caused by viruses, such as Hepatitis B,
Hepatitis A, and the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). EBV is a common childhood virus, but it rarely
causes hepatitis in comparison to the number of cases of mild disease. Many young children with
acute EBV have a mildly sore throat, are never tested, and have no idea they have had the virus.
There was an increase in children hospitalized for hepatitis who tested positive for an upper
respiratory infection called adenovirus in November 2021. This seems to indicate that this strain
of adenovirus was causing hepatitis.
Further analysis revealed that the adenovirus was not present in liver tissue. The viral particle did
not directly attack the liver. As a result, it has been hypothesized that Covid has a role in the
development of hepatitis when exposed to Adenovirus. However, not all of the children were
screened for Covid, there is no evidence to confirm this idea, and more research is required.
How Hepatitis is Spread?
The most common types of hepatitis are spread in many ways:
● Hepatitis B is spread through blood, such as an emergency blood transfusion
(unscreened blood) or sexual contact.
● Hepatitis A is transmitted through a fecal-oral route, which means that feces is present
on anything placed in the mouth, commonly contaminated food.
● EBV, often known as the kissing disease, is transmitted through saliva when an infected
person’s saliva enters another person’s oral or respiratory entrance.
What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Child Has Been
Exposed To Hepatitis Or Is Exhibiting Symptoms Of The
Disease?
If you suspect your child’s symptoms are mild or severe, or if you see a change in skin color to a
more yellow appearance, you should consult your pediatrician. The good news is that a blood
test to check liver enzymes is simple and inexpensive. Hepatitis will be considered if liver
enzymes are high.
Get Medical Attention
May everyone stay healthy and warm this winter. If you need a pediatric doctor to help your
child through all the winter diseases, visit us at AV Children and Multispeciality Clinic. We are a
healthcare facility here to help you