Case numbers of acute hepatitis in children show "a declining trajectory," and COVID-19 and adenovirus remain the most likely, but as yet unproven, causative agents, said experts in an update at the International Liver Congress (ILC) 2022. Philippa Easterbrook, MD, medical expert at the World Health Organization (WHO) Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STI Programme, shared the latest case numbers and working hypotheses of possible causative agents in the outbreak of acute hepatitis among children in Europe and beyond. Global data across the five WHO regions show there were 244 cases in the past month, bringing the total to 894 probable cases reported since October 2021 from 33 countries.

@gourav-0 The study focused on eight different stressors that emerged in the pandemic: access to care, medicine and nursing services; loss of social contact; canceled social events; tension or conflict in the home; inability to perform physical activity or relax; and COVID-19 symptoThe outcomes of interest were depression, as measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); anxiety, as measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); and QOL, with the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire.

@tishta At follow-up visits from ages 5 to 11 years, parents answered questions about their child's thumb-sucking and nail-biting behavior. Allergy sensitivity testing was done at age 13 years in 70% of participants and at age 32 in 93%, using a skin-prick test for house dust mite, grass, cat, dog, horse, kapok, Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria, Penicillium, and Cladosporium. The test for 32-year-olds also included cockroach allergens. The 31% of children who sucked their thumbs or bit their nails frequently, according to parents, were less likely to show sensitization to at least one allergen at age 13 years (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.48 - 0.92; P = .013) and age 32 years (odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.46 - 0.81; P = .001) compared with their peers who did not bite nails or suck thumbs.

Hi,
I am a 20-year-old male. I am a football player. I observed when playing it gets sweaty in the sun. I get small reddish welts. It is difficult for me to concentrate as they cause itching. Is it normal? It doesn't itch as I take a bath. What should I do?