Trends in Acute Hepatitis of Unspecified Etiology and Adenovirus Stool Testing Results in Children — United States, 2017–2022 | MMWR - ISS-G20 Laboratorium Repository

What is already known about this topic?

Following identification of pediatric hepatitis cases of unknown etiology in the United States and the United Kingdom, CDC issued a request in April 2022 for U.S. providers to report additional cases. Many reported cases had test results positive for adenovirus, which is not known to cause hepatitis in immunocompetent children.

What is added by this report?

Analyses of four data sources did not indicate recent increases in hepatitis-associated emergency department visits or hospitalizations, liver transplants, or adenovirus types 40/41 percent positivity among U.S. children compared with pre–COVID-19 pandemic levels.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Current data do not suggest an increase in pediatric hepatitis or adenovirus types 40/41 above pre–COVID-19 pandemic baseline levels; continued surveillance is important to monitor changes over time.

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