In no case was there a risk of death, the health authorities said. A four-year-old boy remained in serious condition at the Bambino Gesu children’s hospital in Rome, but a liver transplant is now considered unnecessary.
The child was initially taken to a hospital in the Tuscan city of Prato with breathing problems and abdominal pain. “His condition suddenly deteriorated. The liver tests showed that it could be a suspected case of acute pediatric hepatitis,” said Pier Luigi Vasarri, head of the local children’s hospital. The boy was transferred to Rome. A corona test was negative, but the young patient had high antibodies. The doctors concluded that the unvaccinated boy could have previously been infected with the virus.
“Some reports of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been registered in Italy and are currently being investigated in detail,” said Gianni Rezza, head of the prevention department at the Ministry of Health in Rome. “Acute and severe hepatitis is new and unusual in children. There is a suspicion that it could be a new virus,” said Italian virologist Massimo Galli.
The EU health authority ECDC will also deal with the topic on Tuesday. In addition to the unusual cases of hepatitis in children, a press conference also deals with Covid-19 and salmonella in chocolate products.
Source: Nachrichten
