Hepatitis also happens in children. This is a growing problem in the UK

The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) warns: more and more cases of hepatitis are being diagnosed in children under the age of 10. Doctors and scientists are still looking for the causes of this sudden increase. Due to the unclear etiology of the disease, it is especially important that parents monitor their child’s health and consult a doctor if they notice any characteristic symptoms, e.g. jaundice.

1. In England, more than 60 cases of hepatitis in children are investigated. For comparison, so far about seven of them have been diagnosed annually
2. The cause of the increase in cases is unknown, and no connection has been found between infections, which precludes the presence of an infection focus at the moment.
3. Doctors urge parents to pay attention to symptoms such as dark urine, pale stools, itchy skin, yellowing of the skin and eyes, abdominal pain and increased body temperature
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Unrest in Great Britain

The UKHSA has called on parents to monitor their children carefully and see their doctor if there are any signs of jaundice. In young patients, it most often appears on the skin and in the whites of the eyes, which becomes a yellowish tinge.

“If your baby has jaundice symptoms, meaning his skin has a yellow tinge most visible in the whites of his eyes, you should contact your GP or other health care provider,” says Dr. Nicholas Phin, director of Public Health Scotland (PHS).

1. Also check: Symptoms of a sick liver – how to recognize? [WE EXPLAIN]

This appeal is linked to an increase in hepatitis cases that has been observed across the UK. In England alone, about 60 cases are currently being investigated in children under the age of 10 (there were another 11 in March alone). For comparison: so far, approximately seven to eight cases have been detected annually in patients without comorbidities (PHS data from Scotland).

The cause of this alarming increase is unknown. According to the UKHSA, it is possible that viruses that are commonly responsible for liver inflammation have not been detectedhowever, it is not known whether they cause inflammation of this organ in children.

“Research is ongoing into a wide range of potential causes, including any possible link to infectious disease,” said Dr. Meera Chand, director of clinical infections. She added that the key is to quickly identify new cases and conduct appropriate tests. To this end, activities are carried out to raise awareness among health professionals who recognize diseases in children.

1. Also read: Hepatitis – What Are The Warning Signs?

The rest of the text below the video.

Hepatitis in children is most often caused by viruses

Inflammation of the liver can be caused by many factors. Among them are viral or bacterial infections, but inflammation can also be caused by inborn defects of metabolism, circulatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, consumption of certain drugs or toxins, and alcohol abuse.

In the case of children, the underlying cause of hepatitis is most often a viral infection, which is why in their first year of life they are vaccinated against pathogens that are most often responsible for them. Vaccination against hepatitis B is mandatory and the first dose is usually given in the hospital right after birth (up to the age of 7 months, the baby is vaccinated three times in total). Vaccination against hepatitis A is voluntary; it is listed as recommended in the vaccination calendar.

In Poland, the problem is another type of viral hepatitis – hepatitis C – for which there is no vaccine. The disease is often passed on from mother to child during labor and may be asymptomatic for a long time. Unfortunately, in most cases (80%) it eventually develops into a chronic condition.

1. See also: Contact with HCV could have been 90 percent. Poles. The first symptoms even after 30 years

These symptoms should be given special attention

According to the UKHSA, symptoms that may indicate a child’s hepatitis include:

1. dark color of urine,
2. a pale grayish stool
3. itchy skin
4. yellowing of the skin and eyes,
5. muscle and joint pain,
6. higher temperature,
7. abdominal pain,
8. loss of appetite
9. severe fatigue.

If you notice these symptoms in your baby, whether or not he has been vaccinated against hepatitis, make an appointment with a pediatrician or general practitioner.

We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time we devote it to the problems of the perineum – a part of the body just like any other. And although it concerns all of us, it is still a taboo subject that we are often ashamed to talk about. What do hormonal changes and natural births change? How not to harm the pelvic floor muscles and how to care for them? How do we talk about perineal problems with our daughters? About this and many other aspects of the problem in a new episode of the podcast.

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1. Viral hepatitis – what should you know about this disease?
2. Eight worst foods for the liver
3. Plan: to eliminate hepatitis C completely by 2030. In Poland, 120 people have no idea that they are sick