Acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology – the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
April15, WHO – World Health organization, published the disease outbreak news regarding the outbreak of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children.
On 5 April 2022, WHO was notified of 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children under the age of 10 years, across central Scotland.
By 8 April, 74 casesc (including the 10 cases) had been identified in the United Kingdom. Hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, E, and D where applicable) have been excluded after laboratory testing while further investigations are ongoing to understand the aetiology of these cases.
The clinical syndrome in identified cases is of acute hepatitis with markedly elevated liver enzymes, often with jaundice, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms, in children principally up to 10 years old. Some cases have required transfer to specialist children’s liver units and six children have undergone liver transplantation.
As of 11 April, no death has been reported among these cases and one epidemiologically linked case has been detected.
WHO is closely monitoring the situation with other Member States and the United Kingdom and partners for cases with similar profiles.
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