Hepatitis Outbreak in Children: What Could Be the Cause?

Joe Gastaldo, MD, System Medical Director for Infectious Disease, talks about the hepatitis outbreak in children and what could be causing the virus.

Recently, in the news worldwide, there has been an outbreak of unknown hepatitis in children. The exact pathophysiology, or reasons behind it, are unknown.

There has been an association with adenovirus type 41. However, it is not known with certainty whether or not that is the actual cause of hepatitis in children.

There may also be some implications from COVID-19. For the past two years, children were not exposed to many respiratory viruses. It’s a quite fascinating area that we’re still waiting for further clarity on.

Want to learn more about common COVID-19 questions? Check our Fast Facts page.