At least one child has decease following sharp hepatitis ( ignition of the liver ) , as the US and Europe continue to see an"unusual " risein face in otherwise levelheaded children .

In anupdate on the outbreak , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) announce they have been inform of 169 cases of liver damage in children aged one calendar month to 16 years , with   at least one decease account . Cases have now been found in   the United Kingdom ( 114 ) , Spain ( 13 ) , Israel ( 12 ) , the USA ( 9 ) , Denmark ( 6 ) , Ireland ( < 5 ) , The Netherlands ( 4 ) , Italy ( 4 ) , Norway ( 2 ) , France ( 2 ) , Romania ( 1 ) , and Belgium ( 1 ) .

Patients show severe liver inflammation , as well as notably advance liver enzymes . Prior to hospitalization insurance , many children experienced abdominal pain sensation ,   diarrhea and vomiting , as well as jaundice .

As yet , the precise suit of thesurge of caseshas not been identified ,   and common   hepatitis computer virus A , B , C , D and E have not been observe within the patient . Adenoviruses , however , have been found   in at least 74 cases , with 18 identified as adenovirus F type 41   – a case that has n’t been associated with liver damage previously .

“ The occurrence of severe hepatitis in a new nipper is not a unexampled phenomenon – there have been casual grammatical case confront over the years , with no underlying movement identify – often referred to as non A - E hepatitis , as psychometric test for the stock hepatitis virus are disconfirming .   What is strange is the increase telephone number of such cases seen over a scant outer space of prison term since January this year . " Professor Will Irving , Professor of Virology at the University of Nottingham , remark .

" Adenovirus 41 is a well - realise grounds of a gastroenteritis illness in immature child , but has not been associated with hepatitis previously . However , the increasing percentage of tiddler fulfill the current case definition of stern discriminating hepatitis in whom Ad-41 has been found can not be ignored , and suggests that Ad-41 transmission may well be linked in some way with the disease . "

Though adenovirus 41 is emerging as a likely culprit , the WHO notes that   SARS - CoV-2 was identified in 20 vitrine , while a further 19 were find to have   a SARS - CoV-2 and adenovirus atomic number 27 - infection , and strain that further information about cases   – including their faithful contacts   – is take before conclusions can be drawn .

“ Adenoviruses are virus that can normally cause the common cold in adults , but also diarrhea , abdominal pain , and honk in children . Sometimes symptoms can be more severe and can rarely cause liver inflammation . It is not uncommon to have adenovirus in spring . Given their seasonality , it may be that the retiring two year has seen youngster isolated away from their compeer and thus not contracting the common childhood viral malady that build up immunity . Thus , link now to virus like adenoviruses may account for the more exaggerated symptom of some of these antecedently sequestrate children,“positedProf Simon Taylor - Robinson , Hepatologist at Imperial College London .

“ And there are other viruses around too – COVID-19 has been consort with redness of many other consistence organs . At the moment we do n’t know for certain what the cause is but the authorities are investigating intensively . It is also unmanageable to work out cause and effect because virus can be common anyway , so might be present but not inevitably the reason . "

hypothesis online has assay to lay the blame on COVID-19 vaccinum , but that is not supported by the data point .

" The vast majority of affected children did not receive COVID-19 vaccination , " according to the WHO in the update . They spotlight instead the possibility of increase susceptibleness to viruses follow lower circulation of adenovirus ( due to COVID-19 measures ) , atomic number 27 - infection with COVID-19 , and a possibility of an   emergence of a fresh adenovirus .