Regarding hepatitis of unknown cause, which has been reported one after another mainly in young children in Europe and the United States, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has revealed that two new children under the age of 16 have been hospitalized with similar symptoms in Japan.
There are now three patients with unexplained inferior hepatitis confirmed in Japan.
According to the World Health Organization, there have been a series of reports of acute hepatitis in 12 countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, mainly in children under the age of 10, with at least 169 cases reported as of 21st of this month, one of which. Is dead.
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, two new children under the age of 16 have been diagnosed with acute hepatitis of unknown cause in Japan.
He is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on the 25th of this month that a patient with a possible cause of hepatitis of unknown cause was confirmed for the first time, and the number of patients confirmed in Japan was three.
The relationship between these three people has not been clarified.
According to WHO, general hepatitis virus has not been detected in patients reported overseas, and the cause is unknown, but adenovirus that causes sore throat etc. has been detected in more than 40% of patients. ..
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is requesting local governments nationwide to report any patients with similar symptoms and is collecting information on the situation overseas.
Expert "You don't have to worry too much at this point."
Ryo Sumazaki, Honorary Director of Ibaraki Prefectural Children's Hospital, a pediatrician who is familiar with liver disease in children, said, "Although mild hepatitis generally occurs in children, cases requiring liver transplantation or liver failure are rare. However, it is still unclear whether the same thing as in Europe and the United States, where reports are being reported one after another, will occur in Japan, and it is necessary for the government and experts to investigate carefully, but at this point, ordinary parents need to be overly worried. However, if the child has the symptoms of "liver" in which the white of the eyes looks yellow, or if vomiting or diarrhea causes the liver to become inactive and unable to drain water, the medical institution immediately I want you to see me. "
Also, regarding the fact that adenovirus is detected in many children with acute hepatitis in Europe and the United States, "Adenovirus itself is a common virus, so even if it is detected in a patient, it cannot be immediately determined that it is the cause. However, adenovirus often spreads not only through flying but also by contact infection, so I want you to wash your hands thoroughly. "