Nine cases of acute hepatitis of uncertain origin were diagnosed in children in Italy. In no case was there a risk of death, health officials said. A four-year-old boy was still in serious condition at the “Bambino Gesu” children’s hospital in Rome, but a liver transplant is now considered unnecessary.
The child was with breathing problems and abdominal pain initially admitted to a hospital in the Tuscan town of Prato. “His condition suddenly worsened. Liver scans showed that he could be a suspected case of acute pediatric hepatitis,” said Pier Luigi Vasarri, head of the local children’s hospital. The boy was transferred to Rome. A corona test was negative, but the young patient had elevated antibodies. Doctors concluded that the unvaccinated boy could have previously been infected with the virus.
“Some reports of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been recorded in Italy and are being investigated in detail,” said Gianni Rezza, head of the prevention department at the Ministry of Health in Rome. “Acute and severe hepatitis is new and uncommon in children. There is a suspicion that it could be a new virus,” said Italian virologist Massimo Galli.
on Tuesday the EU Health Authority ECDC deal with the topic. In addition to the unusual cases of hepatitis in children, a press conference also deals with Covid-19 and salmonella in chocolate products.