An infectious agent could be behind the cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin detected in children in several countries, including Spain, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported yesterday.
Research has ruled out any relationship with the Covid-19 vaccine and it has not been associated with any common exposure to food or drink.
Since the British authorities raised the alarm on April 5, similar cases have been recorded in Denmark, Ireland, Holland, Spain and the United States, although the exact cause has not yet been determined.
Since the British authorities raised the alarm on April 5, similar cases have been recorded in Denmark, Ireland, Holland, Spain and the United States.
“The investigative team in the United Kingdom, where the majority of cases have occurred to date, considers that an infectious agent is the most likely cause, based on the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the cases,” the ECDC said in a statement.
This reference body for epidemics of the European Union highlighted that British investigations have ruled out any relationship between the cases and the Covid-19 vaccine and that no common exposure to food or drinks has been identified either.
In most cases there was no fever, some required care in liver units and in a few a liver transplant was necessary. Investigations have excluded viral hepatitis types A, B, C, D and E in all cases.
The ECDC, which is based in Stockholm, reported that it is collaborating with teams in the countries where cases have been detected, as well as with the World Health Organization (WHO), to support ongoing studies.
Five cases have already been detected in Spain
Galicia registered two new possible cases of this disease this Tuesday. In a brief statement, the Galician Government stated that, in response to a health alert sent from this Ministry last Monday, a process of actively searching for possible cases began, also "retroactively." Two new cases have been detected in Galicia: one of them last January and another that remains active today.
In this way, two cases could be detected, one of them last January, with positive evolution, and another, which remains active currently, and which is also "evolving favorably."
To these we must add the three cases confirmed on April 13 by the Madrid health authorities, one of which required a liver transplant, although all are progressing favorably. The children, aged between 2 and 7 years and from three Spanish autonomous communities (Aragón, Castilla La Mancha and Madrid), are admitted.
The symptoms of this pathology are abdominal pain, vomiting or jaundice (yellowing of the skin). Likewise, the first studies rule out that this disease is related to possible coronavirus infections or the covid-19 vaccine.
Health authorities advise frequent hand washing, covering coughs with the inside of the elbow and using disposable tissues as the main preventive measure, as well as consulting with the pediatrician if the child begins with symptoms that worsen in a few days.
Source: EFE
