Hawaii reports mysterious hepatitis in child under 10 years old

On May 10, 2022

Hawaii has become the 25th state to begin probing a case of mysterious hepatitis in a child less than ten years old — after five deaths and more than 100 cases were reported across America.

The state’s Department of Health said the child was hospitalized with abdominal pain and fever on Maui, its second largest island, at the end of April.

It was unclear whether the child — who has not been named — was still in hospital or had been discharged.

Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed the grim fatality tally in the U.S., which is the biggest in the world with only Indonesia also reporting three deaths in the outbreak.

A total of 15 American children have also been left needing liver transplants by the disease.

More than 300 cases have been reported worldwide with most in the UK (160) and U.S. (109), although this is likely because the country’s have better surveillance.

Scientists are puzzled as to what is causing the outbreak, but the leading theory suggests it could be due to adenovirus — a cause of the common cold — with the majority of America’s cases testing positive for this.

Other hypotheses being investigated include that lockdowns have weakened children’s immunity, or that a previous Covid infection or even exposure to a pet dog could be to blame. The normal causes — hepatitis virus A, B, C, D and E — have all been ruled out.

The above map shows the 25 states that have confirmed or suspected hepatitis cases according to the CDC. Hawaii today became the 25th state to reveal it is probing a suspected case of the illness (yellow), with Puerto Rico also having reported at least one case

Revealing the case late Monday, Hawaii’s Department of Health said: ‘An extensive medical investigation was performed and there are a number of laboratory test results outstanding.

‘At this time, no cause has been determined. DOH is collaborating with the CDC to identify the cause of the hepatitis case.’

Q&A: What is the mysterious global hepatitis outbreak and what is behind it?

What is hepatitis?

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that is usually caused by a viral infection or liver damage from drinking alcohol.

Some cases resolve themselves, with no ongoing issues, but a fraction can be deadly, forcing patients to need liver transplants to survive.

What are the symptoms?

People who have hepatitis generally have fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools and joint pain.

They may also suffer from jaundice — when the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow.

Why are experts concerned?

Hepatitis is usually rare in children, but experts have already spotted more cases in the current outbreak than they would normally expect in a year.

Cases are of an ‘unknown origin’ and are also severe, according to the World Health Organization. It has caused up to two deaths and 18 liver transplants.

What are the top theories?

Co-infection

Experts say the cases may be linked to adenovirus, commonly associated with colds, but further research is ongoing.

This, in combination with Covid infections, could be causing the spike in cases.

The WHO reported adenovirus has been detected in at least 74 of the cases. At least 20 of the children tested positive for the coronavirus.

Weakened immunity

British experts tasked with investigating the spate of illnesses believe the endless cycle of lockdowns may have played a contributing role.

Restrictions may have weakened children’s immunity because of reduced social mixing, leaving them at heightened risk of adenovirus.

This means even ‘normal’ adenovirus could be causing the severe outcomes, because children are not responding to it how they did in the past.

Adenovirus mutation

Other scientists said it may have been the adenovirus that has acquired ‘unusual mutations’.

This would mean it could be more transmissible or better able to get around children’s natural immunity.

New Covid variant

UKHSA officials included ‘a new variant of SARS-CoV-2’ in their working hypotheses.

Covid has caused liver inflammation in very rare cases during the pandemic, although these have been across all ages rather than isolated in children.

Environmental triggers

The CDC has noted environmental triggers are still being probed as possible causes of the illnesses.

These could include pollution or exposure to particular drugs or toxins.

Cases of the mysterious hepatitis have now been detected in 25 states, including: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

At least one case has also been reported in the territory of Puerto Rico.

The CDC has refused to reveal where the five U.S. deaths occurred, citing ‘confidentiality issues’.

But at least one was in Wisconsin, where the Department of Health confirmed last…