Scientists search for cause of hepatitis cases in children

A race is on to find the cause of 74 unusual cases of hepatitis among children in the UK that do not involve viruses commonly associated with the illness.

The first cases were reported in January, and there are now 49 confirmed cases in England, 13 in Scotland, and 12 in Wales and Northern Ireland. Most of the cases in England are in children aged 2-5 years old. Some have required transfer to specialist children’s liver units, and a small …