Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases

BackgroundSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first emerging in December 2019 and continuously evolving, poses a considerable challenge worldwide. It was reported in the literature that neonates had mild upper respiratory symptoms and a better outcome after Omicron SARS-CoV...

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Main Authors: Jing Wang, Wei Hu, Kexin Wang, Rong Yu, Liwen Chang, Zhihui Rong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1179402/full
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author Jing Wang
Wei Hu
Kexin Wang
Rong Yu
Liwen Chang
Zhihui Rong
author_facet Jing Wang
Wei Hu
Kexin Wang
Rong Yu
Liwen Chang
Zhihui Rong
author_sort Jing Wang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first emerging in December 2019 and continuously evolving, poses a considerable challenge worldwide. It was reported in the literature that neonates had mild upper respiratory symptoms and a better outcome after Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection, but there was insufficient data about complications and prognosis.Case PresentationIn this paper, we present the clinical and laboratory characteristics of four COVID-19 neonate patients with acute hepatitis during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave. All patients had a clear history of Omicron exposure and were infected via contact with confirmed caregivers. Low to moderate fever and respiratory symptoms were the primary clinical manifestations, and all patients had a normal liver function at the initial stage of the course. Then, the fever lasted 2 to 4 days, and it was noted that hepatic dysfunction might have occurred 5 to 8 days after the first onset of fever, mainly characterized by moderate ALT and AST elevation (>3 to 10-fold of upper limit). There were no abnormalities in bilirubin levels, blood ammonia, protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and coagulation. All the patients received hepatoprotective therapy, and transaminase levels gradually decreased to the normal range after 2 to 3 weeks without other complications.ConclusionsThis is the first case series about moderate to severe hepatitis in COVID-19 neonatal patients via horizontal transmission. Besides fever and respiratory symptoms, the clinical doctor should pay much attention to evaluating the risk of liver function injury after SARS-CoV-2 variants infection, which is usually asymptomatic and has a delayed onset.
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spelling doaj.art-6ce68871f24e4b2587eeddbcfc4fbe2c2023-05-05T05:49:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602023-05-011110.3389/fped.2023.11794021179402Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four casesJing WangWei HuKexin WangRong YuLiwen ChangZhihui RongBackgroundSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), first emerging in December 2019 and continuously evolving, poses a considerable challenge worldwide. It was reported in the literature that neonates had mild upper respiratory symptoms and a better outcome after Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection, but there was insufficient data about complications and prognosis.Case PresentationIn this paper, we present the clinical and laboratory characteristics of four COVID-19 neonate patients with acute hepatitis during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave. All patients had a clear history of Omicron exposure and were infected via contact with confirmed caregivers. Low to moderate fever and respiratory symptoms were the primary clinical manifestations, and all patients had a normal liver function at the initial stage of the course. Then, the fever lasted 2 to 4 days, and it was noted that hepatic dysfunction might have occurred 5 to 8 days after the first onset of fever, mainly characterized by moderate ALT and AST elevation (>3 to 10-fold of upper limit). There were no abnormalities in bilirubin levels, blood ammonia, protein synthesis, lipid metabolism, and coagulation. All the patients received hepatoprotective therapy, and transaminase levels gradually decreased to the normal range after 2 to 3 weeks without other complications.ConclusionsThis is the first case series about moderate to severe hepatitis in COVID-19 neonatal patients via horizontal transmission. Besides fever and respiratory symptoms, the clinical doctor should pay much attention to evaluating the risk of liver function injury after SARS-CoV-2 variants infection, which is usually asymptomatic and has a delayed onset.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1179402/fullneonateSARS-CoV-2Omicron variantCOVID-19acute hepatitisliver injury
spellingShingle Jing Wang
Wei Hu
Kexin Wang
Rong Yu
Liwen Chang
Zhihui Rong
Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases
Frontiers in Pediatrics
neonate
SARS-CoV-2
Omicron variant
COVID-19
acute hepatitis
liver injury
title Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases
title_full Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases
title_fullStr Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases
title_full_unstemmed Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases
title_short Case report: Acute hepatitis in neonates with COVID-19 during the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant wave: a report of four cases
title_sort case report acute hepatitis in neonates with covid 19 during the omicron sars cov 2 variant wave a report of four cases
topic neonate
SARS-CoV-2
Omicron variant
COVID-19
acute hepatitis
liver injury
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1179402/full
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