Volume 30, Number 4—April 2024
CME ACTIVITY - Research
Deaths Associated with Pediatric Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology, United States, October 2021–June 2023
Olivia Almendares1
, Julia M. Baker1, David E. Sugerman, Umesh D. Parashar, Sarah Reagan-Steiner, Hannah L. Kirking, Paul A. Gastañaduy, Jacqueline E. Tate, and Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology Group2
, Julia M. Baker1, David E. Sugerman, Umesh D. Parashar, Sarah Reagan-Steiner, Hannah L. Kirking, Paul A. Gastañaduy, Jacqueline E. Tate, and Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology Group2
Table 1
Eligibility and exclusions among fatally ill children reported to the pediatric acute hepatitis of unknown etiology investigation, United States, October 1, 2021–June 6, 2023
| Description | No. (%) |
|---|---|
| Total reported | 23 (100.0) |
| Meets reporting criteria* | 8 (34.8) |
| Does not meet reporting criteria | 14 (60.9) |
| Unknown |
1 (4.3) |
| Reason for exclusion | |
| Age ≥10 y | 1 (7.1) |
| Onset date before October 1, 2021 | 1 (7.1) |
| Alternative etiology† | 12 (85.7) |
| Complications of sepsis, pathogens other than adenovirus | 6 (50.0) |
| Congenital conditions | 3 (25.0) |
| Unintentional injury‡ | 3 (25.0) |
*Child <10 y of age with elevated (>500 U/L) aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase and hepatitis of unknown etiology with onset since October 1, 2021. †Some children presented with complex clinical courses. The cause of hepatitis was not conclusive, but an alternative etiology or etiologies were considered likely. Categorizations were based upon available records. ‡Unintentional injuries include suffocation and acetaminophen toxicity.
1These authors contributed equally to this article.
2Members of the group are listed at the end of this article.
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