CDC investigation of mysterious hepatitis cases in children includes 1 child in RI

A child from Rhode Island is among more than 100 across the country who have been diagnosed with hepatitis without a known cause, leading to an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Health Department announced Wednesday.

The child was asymptomatic and not hospitalized, according to Health Department spokesman Joseph Wendelken. 

The CDC is investigating 180 cases of hepatitis among children younger than 10 in 36 states, including the Rhode Island case, the agency reported. Many of the cases have been unusually serious; at least five of the children have died, and 15 have required liver transplants. 

In some of these cases, the children have also been found to have been infected with a type of adenovirus, which is a common family of viruses that typically cause respiratory illnesses. None has had evidence of infection with the viruses known to commonly cause hepatitis. 

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The Rhode Island Department of Health is advising that children should be up to date on all vaccinations, and that everyone should wash their hands often, stay home when sick, avoid others who are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. 

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