Alberta reporting two probable cases of mystery liver disease in patients under 16
CBC
Alberta's chief medical officer of health says there are two probable cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin in children in the province.
Dr. Deena Hinshaw says both children are under 16.
She says one of the patients was treated, discharged from hospital and is doing well.
Hinshaw says the other patient remains in hospital.
She says she cannot provide more details due to patient confidentiality.
Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children said Tuesday it had identified seven probable cases of the liver disease.
The hospital, also known as SickKids, said the mysterious cases were identified between Oct. 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, and reported to Public Health Ontario.
SickKids said it remains to be seen whether that number is an increase in cases of unknown origin compared with similar periods in previous years, or if any of the cases will be confirmed to have a new cause.
Manitoba also said a probable case was reported in that province in recent weeks.
Hinshaw said Alberta shared information late last week with clinicians on what to look for and how to report severe acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children.
The province has been working closely with federal, provincial and territorial officials to monitor emerging information, she said.
"We've also been working to align our reporting criteria with the other provinces and territories — in this case the current World Health Organization and Public Health Agency of Canada definitions," she said at a news conference.
"This will allow us to consistently report case information to the federal government and help contribute to the global body of work to understand more about this condition."
The definition for possible cases is broad, Hinshaw said, as any child with severe liver inflammation with unknown cause is being counted.
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