Top 5 Takeaways

1. No Recent Increases in Pediatric Hepatitis or Adenovirus: Analysis of four data sources shows no recent uptick in hepatitis-associated emergency department visits, hospitalizations, liver transplants, or adenovirus types 40/41 positivity among U.S. children compared to pre-COVID-19 levels.
2. Continued Surveillance is Key: Despite the findings, ongoing surveillance remains critical to monitor potential changes over time, given the rare nature of pediatric hepatitis and its varying incidence.
3. Data Sources for Analysis: The National Syndromic Surveillance Program, the Premier Healthcare Database Special Release, the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, and Labcorp were utilized to assess trends in pediatric hepatitis and adenovirus positivity.
4. Findings Contextualize Recent Hepatitis Cases: While recent cases of pediatric hepatitis of unknown etiology have raised concerns, the current data do not indicate an overall increase in hepatitis or specific adenoviruses above historical levels.
5. Implications for Public Health: The stability of pediatric hepatitis or adenovirus types 40/41 suggests that these conditions remain at baseline levels, highlighting the importance of ongoing public health monitoring and investigation.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Anita K. Kambhampati, ncirddvdgast@cdc.gov.

Suggested Citation

Kambhampati AK, Burke RM, Dietz S, et al. Trends in Acute Hepatitis of Unspecified Etiology and Adenovirus Stool Testing Results in Children — United States, 2017–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:797–802. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7124e1.

Summary

This MMWR article reports on an investigation into pediatric hepatitis cases of unknown etiology and the role of adenovirus, following alerts in the United States and Europe. The analysis of data from multiple sources did not show an increase in hepatitis-associated emergency department visits, hospitalizations, liver transplants, or adenovirus positivity in children in the U.S., compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Methods

Data were collected from four sources: the National Syndromic Surveillance Program, the Premier Healthcare Database Special Release, the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, and Labcorp. Trends in hepatitis-associated health outcomes and adenovirus stool testing results among children were analyzed, with comparisons made to pre-pandemic baselines to assess any significant changes.

Discussion

The findings suggest that, despite initial concerns, there has not been an increase in pediatric hepatitis or adenovirus types 40/41 positivity in the U.S. compared to historical levels. The analysis provides context for ongoing investigations into pediatric hepatitis cases of unknown etiology, underscoring the importance of continuous surveillance and research.

Conclusion

Current data do not indicate a significant change in the incidence of pediatric hepatitis or adenovirus types 40/41 positivity in the U.S., reinforcing the need for ongoing public health monitoring and investigation to understand and manage potential hepatitis outbreaks among children.

This has been your booster shot of MMWR Info! Please check back for more MMWR, Public Health, and Programming Tutorial content daily.