Lancet study: Acute hepatitis may be linked to COVID-19 infection

One A study published in the prestigious medical journal scalpelrelated to pediatric acute hepatitis cases, which have already been detected in about 20 countries, out of a total of more than 340 cases, with Covid-19 infection.

Gastroenterologists and hepatologists suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 superantigen may be associated with cases of hepatitis detected in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel. We remember that in Portugal, so far, 8 suspicious casesnot yet confirmed.

Children who develop this type of hepatitis develop gastrointestinal symptoms and jaundice. In some cases, liver transplants are actually needed after the organ has experienced acute failure. None of the known variants of hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E) were found.

this study scalpel It indicates that the detected cases resulted from a previous infection with Covid-19, followed by another infection with adenovirus, leaving a viral reservoir in the intestine. This means that the virus stays in the body for a longer time.

The publication notes that 72% of children tested in the UK had a previous infection with adenovirus, and most had subtype 41F, attributable to infectious infections. Covid-19 was detected in 18% of cases analyzed in this country, with the vast majority of hepatitis cases diagnosed in children considered too young to receive the vaccine. Vaccine against covid-19.

“Covid-19 infection can lead to the formation of a viral reservoir,” the researchers said, “viral persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to increased immune activation,” which “can be measured by a superantigen present in the spike protein.” SARS-CoV-2″.

Researchers believe that continuous monitoring of the stools of children with acute hepatitis can help properly assess what is going on.

In the same sense for the study, the most recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) are also present. The World Health Organization in Europe, in a report dated May 13, indicated that 70% of children under 16 years of age who contracted acute hepatitis had previously had Covid-19.

May 18 2022