First pediatric hepatitis case of unknown origin reported in Tarrant County resident
Tarrant County has had its first case of pediatric hepatitis of unknown origin, Tarrant County Public Health announced in a news release Thursday.
A child, whose age has not been released, is a Tarrant County resident but was hospitalized at a facility out of the county and has been released with the hepatitis resolved, according to the release.
In the last seven months, 180 cases of hepatitis in pediatric patients with unknown cause have been reported across 36 states and U.S. territories. The cases are under investigation.
The CDC is investigating the cases with lab tests, hoping to find possible causes, according to the release.
Severe hepatitis in children is rare, Tarrant County Public Health says, but parents and caregivers should still know the symptoms:
- Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine
- Light-colored stools
If parents or caregivers are concerned, they should contact their child’s health care provider, Tarrant County Public Health said. It’s also good practice to teach children ways to prevent disease such as washing hands often, avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding contact with eyes, nose and mouth.
This story was originally published May 26, 2022 at 6:12 PM.