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. 2022 Apr;27(15):2200318.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.15.2200318.

Investigation into cases of hepatitis of unknown aetiology among young children, Scotland, 1 January 2022 to 12 April 2022

Kimberly Marsh  1 , Rachel Tayler  2 , Louisa Pollock  3 , Kirsty Roy  1 , Fatim Lakha  1 , Antonia Ho  4 , David Henderson  1 , Titus Divala  1 , Sandra Currie  1 , David Yirrell  1 , Michael Lockhart  1 , Maria K Rossi  1 , Nick Phin  1
Affiliations

Investigation into cases of hepatitis of unknown aetiology among young children, Scotland, 1 January 2022 to 12 April 2022

Kimberly Marsh et al. Euro Surveill. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

On 31 March 2022, Public Health Scotland was alerted to five children aged 3-5 years admitted to hospital with severe hepatitis of unknown aetiology. Retrospective investigation identified eight additional cases aged 10 years and younger since 1 January 2022. Two pairs of cases have epidemiological links. Common viral hepatitis causes were excluded in those with available results. Five children were adenovirus PCR-positive. Other childhood viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have been isolated. Investigations are ongoing, with new cases still presenting.

Keywords: Hepatitis of unknown aetiology; adenovirus; outbreak; paediatric patients; public health response.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Epidemiological curve of date of hospital admission of confirmed cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children 10 years of age and under, Scotland, 1 January–12 April 2022 (n = 13 cumulative cases)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Confirmed cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children, by age in years, Scotland, 1 January–12 April 2022 (n = 13 cumulative cases)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Laboratory-confirmed cases of adenovirus in children, by age groups, Scotland, 1 January 2017–6 April 2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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