Hepatitis has spread among children suddenly, with some reporting digestive system issues according to the founder of the Liver Tumors Unit at the National Liver Institute Mohamed Ezz al-Arab.
Arab added during an Television interview on Tuesday morning that the infection affected children from one month old to 16 years old, but could not explain the reason behind its spread.
This mysterious hepatitis strain began in the UK and immediately spread globally, according to the World Health Organization.
Inflammation caused by the virus led to significant deterioration in the condition of some children resulting in complete liver failure, which required a liver transplant, he continued.
So far the spread of the virus has been simple and is not an epidemic, with Arab assuring it is not in Egypt.
Arab stressed the importance of personal hygiene and the isolation of children in case they contract the flu, gastrointestinal diseases and jaundice.
The World Health Organization has reported 170 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children in 12 countries, and one death from this infection.
“As of 21 April 2022, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been reported from 11 countries in the WHO European Region and one country in the WHO Region of the Americas,” the organization said in a statement.
“Cases have been reported in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom) (114), Spain (13), Israel (12), the United States of America (9), Denmark (6), Ireland (<5), The Netherlands (4), Italy (4), Norway (2), France (2), Romania (1), and Belgium (1),” it added.
According to the World Health Organization, the age of patients ranges from one month old to 16 years old. Approximately 10 percent of patients required a liver transplant. The World Health Organization has information on at least one death, it said.
