Severe Hepatitis In Children: What New York Parents Need To Know

NEW YORK — A mysterious outbreak of severe hepatitis — or inflammation of the liver — among healthy young children in 10 states, including New York, is being investigated by medical researchers.

The other states reporting this type of pediatric liver inflammation are Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin, where one child died.

Some 200 children, ranging in age from 1 month to 16 years, have suddenly become ill with severe hepatitis. Most cases are in Europe, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a nationwide health alert late last month urging pediatricians to test children for adenovirus infections.

In response to a question from Patch, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health said it was working with the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and the CDC, investigating cases of pediatric hepatitis to determine if any may be related to the illness that has been reported in Europe and Alabama.

"There are several investigations currently underway," the spokesperson said, adding that more information can be found at the CDC.

The presence of adenovirus infection among patients with hepatitis is a common link in outbreaks that have so far flummoxed both United States and European health officials. There appears to be no epidemiological link among cases, researchers have said.

• Related: CDC Issues Alert After Several Kids Develop Severe Hepatitis

Cold-like symptoms typically accompany adenovirus infections, but the virus has never been known to cause hepatitis, according to the CDC. These types of infections typically run their course, with no specific treatment recommended.

In November 2021, five children undergoing treatment for hepatitis at a large children’s hospital — three of them with acute liver failure — tested positive for adenovirus infections, which can cause cold-like symptoms among people of any age. Another four cases of children with both hepatitis and adenovirus infections were subsequently discovered. None of the patients died, but two required liver transplants.