5 Children Dead Amid Severe Hepatitis Outbreak In U.S.: CDC

ATLANTA, GA — An unexplained severe hepatitis outbreak in the United States has now killed five children and infected more than 100, according to a report citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest count, revealed during a Friday news conference and reported by NBC News, marks a sharp increase from two weeks ago when the United States had only 11 documented cases and no reported deaths.

The CDC issued a warning for U.S. physicians after the cases were reported in young children in two different states.

RELATED: CDC Issues Alert After Several Children Develop Severe Hepatitis

CDC officials said Friday that 109 cases have now been identified, NBC News reported. A majority were hospitalized, and eight required a liver transplant.

So far, 228 cases have been identified in 20 countries, NBC News reported, citing the World Health Organization.

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver that can be caused by viral infections, alcohol use, toxins, medications and certain other medical conditions, according to the CDC. In the United States, the most common causes of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses.

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain and jaundice.

Many U.S. children who had hepatitis also tested positive for adenovirus, a virus that most commonly causes respiratory illness but, depending on the adenovirus type, can cause other illnesses such as gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, cystitis and, less commonly, neurological disease.

There is no specific treatment for adenovirus infections, according to the CDC.