Pediatric hepatitis outbreak cases are not above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels: CDC - Fox News

In response to the current pediatric hepatitis outbreak possibly linked to adenovirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found current data do not suggest an increase in pediatric hepatitis cases or adenovirus types 40/41 from the time the outbreak began compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. .

"Data from four large administrative databases were analyzed to assess trends in pediatric hepatitis and percentage of stool specimens positive for adenovirus type 40/41," the CDC said. ?

The CDC compared data during the current hepatitis outbreak period from October 2021–March 2022 with a pre-COVID-19 pandemic baseline, because health care-seeking behavior may have changed during 2020-21 in response to the pandemic. .

They found many of the reported cases also had tests results positive for adenovirus type 41, a virus known to cause gastroenteritis, but not known to cause hepatitis in children with an intact immune system, per the agency.  

"Because neither acute hepatitis of unknown etiology nor adenovirus type 41 is reportable in the United States, it is unclear whether either has recently increased above historical levels," the CDC said. 

Labcorp data included results for stool specimens tested for adenovirus types 40/41 but could not distinguish if the type was type 40 or 41, but the CDC noted approximately 90% of all adenovirus cases detected in the U.S

There was also no significant increase in number of monthly liver transplants or increase in the percentage of specimens positive for adenovirus types 40/41 during October 2021–March 2022 compared with pre-pandemic levels. 

But the United Kingdom did report an increase in the number of stool specimens positive for adenovirus among children 1 to 4 years old compared with pre-pandemic levels, but the agency noted data on total specimens tested in the U.K

The United Kingdom did report an increase in the number of stool specimens positive for adenovirus among children 1–4 years old compared with pre-pandemic levels, but the agency noted data on total specimens tested in the U.K

"Finally, these results are intended to provide an overview of trends in pediatric acute hepatitis of unspecified etiology and adenovirus types 40/41 in the United States and cannot be used to infer or disprove a causal link between these two illnesses."