April 28, 2022
On April 26, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released a health advisory recommending that clinicians consider adenovirus infection when evaluating pediatric patients, particularly those younger than 10 years, presenting with gastrointestinal illness with jaundice or hepatitis of unknown etiology.
MDH also suggested testing patients with clinically compatible illnesses for adenovirus using NAAT (e.g., PCR) on respiratory specimens, stool or rectal swabs, or blood. Anecdotal reports on cases found in Alabama suggest that testing whole blood may be more sensitive than testing plasma. This testing may be available at some clinical laboratories or providers can contact MDH if testing is unavailable. Testing for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and liver function is also recommended.
Hold unused specimens until consultation with MDH occurs. This includes respiratory specimens, stool or rectal swabs, and EDTA blood specimens that remain after recommended testing is complete.
Clinicians should have heightened vigilance for pediatric patients presenting with symptoms of hepatitis, including fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light-colored stools, joint pain, and jaundice. Many of the cases reported worldwide have presented without fever.
Report pediatric patients, particularly those younger than 10, with hepatitis of unknown etiology and with AST/ALT >500 or those with illness severe enough to be hospitalized since October 1, 2021, to MDH at 651-201-5414.
August 20, 2026
A physician and Olympian will give an inspirational address as part of this year's Empowering Physicians event on Friday, September 25, at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
August 20, 2026
Minnesota received some disturbing news this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as data shows that for the 2025-2026 school year, vaccination rates decreased and non-medical exemptions increased.
August 20, 2026
On August 11, a federal appellate court sided with the Texas Medical Association (TMA) argument that the way the No Surprises Act’s qualifying payment amount (QPA) is calculated has historically favored payers in arbitration.