THE number of mystery hepatitis cases found in children on the island of Ireland continues to climb.
A total of 24 cases of the acute illness have been identified among children.
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Some 16 cases have been confirmed in Northern Ireland so far and a total of eight children cases have been reported by health chiefs in the Republic – up two on recent figures.
The mystery illness is being referred to as non A-E hepatitis or sudden onset hepatitis.
Cases have been detected in 20 countries globally, with 160 cases in the UK alone so far.
In the UK, 11 children have required a liver transplant after developing the condition.
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And most cases have affected children under the age of five.
According to Irish health chiefs, all of the probable cases of the hepatitis illness here were in children aged between one and 12.
All of the children were hospitalised, one received a liver transplant and one sadly passed away.
The children are not linked in any way and they have not been abroad recently, the HSE said.
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Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride urged parents to be vigilant of the dangerous condition.
He said: “On non A-E hepatitis in children, we have now 16 confirmed cases in children in Northern Ireland, some of whom have required specialist treatment in other parts of the United Kingdom, including one who has required a liver transplant.
“We are very grateful for the joint work which has gone on across the United Kingdom, both in terms of the public health response and also working with clinical teams to ensure these children get the best possible treatment and care.
‘VIGILANCE AND AWARENESS’
“The important thing is that we maintain a high level of vigilance and awareness of this condition.
“There is ongoing investigation to determine the cause.”
Dr McBride added: “It is obviously concerning when we are dealing with any new presentation, particularly when we are not absolutely clear at this point in time what is causing it.”
Symptoms parents should be on the alert for include jaundice, muscle and joint pain, a high temperature, feeling and being sick.
As well as feeling unusually tired all the time, a general sense of feeling unwell, loss of appetite, tummy pain, dark urine, pale, grey-coloured poo and itchy skin.