Massachusetts DPH investigates two cases of pediatric hepatitis

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is investigating two confirmed cases of pediatric hepatitis in the state.

The CDC announced last week it was investigating 109 cases across 24 states and Puerto Rico. Those cases span the past seven months.

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 90 percent of those children were hospitalized, and 14 percent required liver transplants. The CDC said more than half of those U.S. cases also tested positive for adenovirus, a seasonal virus that can cause hepatitis.

However, the DPH said both of the cases in Massachusetts tested negative for adenovirus.

The DPH isn’t releasing any further details about the two cases, citing patient privacy.

“There are non-infectious causes as well, including exposure to some toxins or other environmental factors,” said Dr. Kristin Moffitt, an infectious diseases physician at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Moffitt said parents shouldn’t be alarmed at this point, but she said they should be aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for. Symptoms include dark urine, light-colored stool and yellowing of the skin or eyes.

“It’s too early to say if there’s a unifying cause,” said Dr. Moffitt. “This is really something that would be caught typically by the development of symptoms.”

The CDC has issued advisories and made contact with health departments and institutions about reporting cases that meet the criteria.

“This is still a very rare phenomenon. They are numerically very few, compared to the absolute number of children who could potentially become infected,” said Dr. Raymond Chung, vice chief of the Gastrointestinal Division and Director of the Hepatology and Liver Center at MGH.

Dr. Chung said the symptoms can potentially progress over a matter of days.

“From what we know, these are healthy children under the age of 10 who do not have any known immunocompromised conditions,” explained Dr. Chung.

Hepatitis and liver failure are unusual occurrences in young children. So far, the actual number of hepatitis cases being reported across the U.S. is no more than the number usually seen.

Health experts recommend precautions such as hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding people who are sick and not touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

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