This spring, global health advisories have been issued regarding an alarming — and as-yet unexplained — uptick of hepatitis in children. Currently, over 200 cases have been reported worldwide, a relatively small amount that nonetheless belies a considerable toll, including several deaths and the need for liver transplantation in a number of patients. The long-term implications are not yet known. Global health officials are working hard to determine a cause, with many focusing on the underlying cases of adenovirus that several patients have presented with.
To understand more, Medscape reached out to frequent contributor William F. Balistreri, MD, a specialist in pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, where, to date, they have treated at least six cases of hepatitis in otherwise healthy young children, with one requiring a liver transplant. Dr Balistreri discussed how the outbreak has developed to date, his advice to hepatologists and pediatricians, and where we stand now in this fast-evolving crisis.
Tracing the Outbreak in the United States
How has this outbreak played out thus far in the United States, and what have we learned from that?
Sporadic reports of cases in multiple states are appearing. On April 21, 2022, a health alert was issuedby the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommending testing for adenovirus in children with acute hepatitis of an unknown etiology.
