My niece got the mysterious acute hepatitis, we think covid caused it

[MichelleMitchell]

My niece is one of the children to contract the mysterious severe hepatitis. She had jaundice, white poo, diarrhea, and trouble passing urine. She hasn't been jabbed and as far as we know has never contracted covid (never a positive test but being a kid has had many colds and covid has been in the household) she spent a week in hospital and was treated with fluids and Ursodiol. Shes out now and her symptoms have mostly subsided but shes is still being prescribed the ursodiol and having her blood checked regularly at the hospital as her GGT levels are still high. Shes 4 years old and has two older sisters, one is 13 and the other is 6 and hasn't exhibited symptoms (the 6 year old has tested positive for covid before).

Why do you think Covid caused it when she hasn't had Covid?

Adenovirus. Its symptoms are so, so like covid (well, actually much worse than the later strains of covid). That is what is causing the liver issues. My kids have had it and were nearly hospitalised just due to the symptoms, but thankfully no liver related symptoms.

My 4yo was the most sick and has had to have lots of additional tests.

It appears to be caused by adenovirus, nothing to do with covid.

How can covid of caused it when she's not had covid?

There is no evidence in her blood work of any virus or infection other than the hepatitis and symptoms accompanying the inflammation. The only significant change in her environment as far as we can tell has been the pandemic. Everybody at a loss to explain it and my own personal belief is that covid has something to do with it, if not directly then indirectly.

There is no evidence in her blood work of any virus or infection other than the hepatitis and symptoms accompanying the inflammation. The only significant change in her environment as far as we can tell has been the pandemic. Everybody at a loss to explain it and my own personal belief is that covid has something to do with it, if not directly then indirectly.

Did they take a sample of the snot from her Nose? (Naso pharyngeal aspirate) Adenovirus is usually picked up that way. As it's a respiratory virus. My hospital will test for all viruses on the covid PCR.

Did she not have nasal swab? That would be the only way to definitively say if it's adenovirus or covid or something else respiratory.

One theory is that adenovirus, which is normally a relatively mild illness in children, is now effecting them so badly due to sudden exposure following covid restrictions as opposed to regular low level exposure pre covid. So in a way these hepatitis cases are covid related. It's not impossible your nieces hepatitis is directly from covid, but it's more likely it's from adenovirus as this is what is causing it nationally.