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An ongoing investigation into an unexplained rise in hepatitis among children has seen a further increase in cases across the UK, as nurses speak of their role in supporting parents to manage their anxieties and seek help if their child has symptoms.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recorded a further 18 confirmed cases of hepatitis in children under 16 – taking the total number of UK cases to 163.
“The recent increase means nurses may be providing care to families trying to understand and cope with an unfamiliar illness"
Michelle Eleftheriades
In its latest briefing, the agency said its findings continued to suggest an association with adenovirus and that this was the most frequently detected virus in samples tested.
However, it continued to investigate other potential contributing factors such as a previous Covid-19 infection or a change in susceptibility because of reduced exposure during the pandemic.
The UKSHA reiterated that there was no evidence of any link to the Covid-19 vaccination, noting that the majority of cases were under five years old and therefore too young to have received the jab.
Jaundice and vomiting are the most common symptoms of children affected and of the 163 in the UK, 11 have received a liver transplant, the agency added.
The UKHSA said new cases continue to be identified and that although there is “some apparent reduction” in confirmed cases over the past two weeks, there are a number of cases pending classification and a lag in reporting which meant it “cannot yet say there is a decrease”.
Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at UKHSA, stressed it was “important that parents know the likelihood of their child developing hepatitis is extremely low”.
However, Dr Chand said the UKHSA wanted to “remind everyone to be alert to the signs of hepatitis”, especially jaundice, and to seek healthcare advice if concerned.
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More widely, the World Health Organization confirmed that since concerns were first raised in the UK in early April, there had been at least 228 probable cases from 20 countries, as of 2 May 2022. There were also more than 50 additional cases pending classification.
Chair of the Association of British Paediatric Nurses and a children’s nurse by background, Caron Eyre, told Nursing Times the situation was “a concern” due to the unexplained nature of the rise in children with hepatitis who she said were “becoming more seriously ill”.
“We don't understand what's caused the change, and we know that there [is] still a small but significant group of children that are developing severe acute hepatitis,” she said.
Caron Eyre
Ms Eyre stressed it was the job of nurses to “support parents and help them manage their anxieties”, while ensuring they took early intervention and sought healthcare advice if they noticed symptoms in their children.
It was also crucial that all health professionals working with children and families, especially school nurses and health visitors, had a “slightly heightened awareness” of symptoms, she said.
Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing’s professional lead for children and young people’s nursing, Michelle Eleftheriades, told Nursing Times: “The recent increase in hepatitis in children means nurses may be providing care to families trying to understand and cope with an unfamiliar illness.
“Nurses’ fundamental skills and approach to caring for children and young people, as part of a multi-professional team, means families will be reassured that they will be supported and that children will be given the best care.”
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