JAKARTA - The Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB-IDI) appealed to health workers and the public to increase early awareness of acute hepatitis, whose cause is still unknown.
"PB IDI together with the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) appeal to all relevant health workers and levels of society, especially parents and children, to strictly adhere to health protocols, especially during this Lebaran homecoming period," said PB IDI Chairman Adib Khumaidi. in an electronic message received in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 3.
This appeal was conveyed by PB IDI to all levels following up on a Circular from the World Health Organization (WHO) and a circular from the Ministry of Health through the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control with letter number HK.02.02/C/2515/2022 concerning Precautions for Unknown Cases of Acute Hepatitis. Its etiology (Acute Hepatitis Of Unknown Aetiology) on 27 April 2022.
Adib said that currently the mysterious Acute Hepatitis has been officially published as an Extraordinary Event (KLB) by WHO because the number of reports of similar cases continues to grow. Currently more than 170 cases are reported from 12 countries in the world.
Adib asked all medical professional organizations under PB-IDI, all doctors and health workers assigned to various types of first-level health facilities, namely puskesmas, posyandu, independent practice clinics, as well as individual practicing doctors to also be aware of any symptoms of hepatitis in children and adults.
Acute hepatitis, whose cause is still unknown, has symptoms, including changes in the color of urine (dark) and/or stool (pale), yellow, itching, joint pain or aches, high fever, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, lethargy. , and/or loss of appetite, diarrhea, and seizures, and is characterized by Serum Aspartate transaminase (AST) or Alanine transaminase (ALT) more than 500 U/L.
"Meanwhile, from laboratory examination, Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses were not found. However, in some cases SARS-CoV-2 and/or Adenovirus were found. Therefore, further investigation of pathogens (biological or chemical) needs to be done ," he said.
Meanwhile, the General Chair of PP IDAI, Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, SpA(K) also asked all pediatricians and resident pediatricians to also supervise when the symptoms in question appear in patients.
IDAI urges the public to remain calm and careful, prevent infection by washing hands, drinking clean boiled water, eating clean and cooked food, disposing of feces or disposable diapers in place, using personal eating utensils, wearing masks and keeping a distance.
So far, said Piprim, clinical and public health responses have been applied in the UK and a number of countries experiencing similar cases to coordinate case finding with the investigation of the cause of the disease in this case of Acute Hepatitis.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Health as well as the Indonesian Health Service are conducting further investigations to include a more detailed exposure history, and additional virological/microbiological tests.
IDI and IDAI fully support the government's efforts by coordinating with relevant medical experts for a thorough investigation of suspected cases of Acute Hepatitis.
IDI and IDAI also ask for help and support from every medical and health worker to actively educate the local community to immediately visit the nearest Health Service Facility (Fasyankes) if there are children or family members who experience symptoms.
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