RI Child Among Hepatitis Cases In More Than 100 Children Nationwide

RHODE ISLAND — A child from Rhode Island is among more than 100 children nationwide to be diagnosed with hepatitis without there being a known cause, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH).

Hepatitis (or inflation of the liver) has been diagnosed without a known cause in more than 100 U.S. children over the last seven months, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These children are from 25 states, and the Rhode Island child is now part of the CDC's investigation, state health officials said Wednesday.

Health officials said the CDC is working to learn more about these cases. While a virus called adenovirus has been detected in some of these children, the CDC is still working to understand the cause of these cases of hepatitis. Adenoviruses are a group of common viruses that typically cause respiratory illnesses, such as a common cold, croup, bronchitis, or pneumonia.

Common causes of viral hepatitis, such as infection with hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses, were considered, but evidence for these infections were not found in any of the patients so far, officials said.

The CDC said it's monitoring the situation closely to understand the possible cause of these illnesses and to identify potential efforts to prevent or mitigate them. More information about the child hepatitis investigation can be found here.

While hepatitis is extremely rare among children, state health officials said it's important for families to take general prevention measures. Children should be up-to-date on all their vaccinations. Additionally, health officials said everyone should:

• Wash their hands often
• Stay home when sick
• Avoid other people who are sick
• Covering coughs and sneezes, and
• Avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.