The severe hepatitis of unknown origin that was already identified for the first time in Colombia has nothing to do with the anticovid vaccine, it is not contagious and it is not going to become a new pandemic, because so far only about 650 have been identified. cases around the world.
These are some of the messages that the health authorities have spread in recent days. They have become even more relevant in Colombia, because this May 31 the National Institute of Health (INS) confirmed a case of this hepatitis in a two-year-old boy.
The entity clarified, however, that he is in good health and has been discharged. Due to his age, he had not received the anticovid vaccine – it is only applied to those over 3 years old – but he had been infected with coronavirus.
After this confirmation, EL COLOMBIANO tells you what is the latest that is known about these cases, what you should take into account to identify them and how dangerous they can be.
Why is it different from other hepatitis?
The surprise that this hepatitis has caused in the world has to do with the fact that its origins are not explained from the frequent causes of other hepatitis. They are usually caused by hepatitis A, B, C, D or E viruses. They are also triggered by bacteria or poisoning with certain substances.
However, other causes of new cases of orphan hepatitis have already been ruled out. For example, it is known that it is not caused by contact with pets, or toxic elements in toys, or anticovid vaccines – many of the documented cases are in children who were not yet old enough to be vaccinated.
“A strain of adenovirus –type 41– has been described as the impicada. This virus generally spreads from person to person and is more likely to cause respiratory symptoms,” said Andrés Gómez Aldana, gastroenterologist and transplant hepatology specialist at the University of Toronto. This, however, does not imply that hepatitis is contagious. When children get sick they are no longer transmitting the adenovirus.
Although the INS told this newspaper that the two-year-old boy who had this hepatitis tested positive for subtype 40 of adenovirus – very close to 41 – they explained that other causes of the disease are still being investigated.
“Americans are not so sold on the adenovirus hypotheses. They are still looking for other explanations,” said the director of public health surveillance for the INS, Franklyn Prieto. “What can happen? That they are different causes for this hepatitis of unknown origin and that they have coincided ”, he pointed out.
Why do you give to children and young people?
Cases of this type of hepatitis have appeared in children and young people aged between one month and 16 years. Experts say this is still a matter of investigation. But Dr. Prieto explained that children are more vulnerable to hepatitis.
This is because the liver is in full development, which could lead to more serious hepatitis.
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How dangerous is it for children?
“It has been described that up to 10% of hepatitis cases have required a liver transplant and at least one death has been reported,” explained gastroenterologist Gómez.
To date, the documented cases in the world are still few, which is why the health authorities insist that it is not an epidemic, but rather conglomerates of liver disease. In other words, the chance of children getting this hepatitis is slim.
On the other hand, the WHO) has indicated that the risk that this disease implies for global public health remains “low”.
The key, experts agree, is to make an early diagnosis of the disease.
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How do you know that a child has hepatitis?
The characteristic symptom of this disease is jaundice. That is, the coloration of the skin and the white part of the eyes turns yellowish. Other warning signs have also been described, such as vomiting, diarrhea or changes in the color of urine, which generally becomes darker.
Once patients see a doctor, the doctor will perform various tests to identify if a child has hepatitis and what is causing it. If you do not determine its origin, it is probably this hepatitis of unknown origin
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