Acute Hepatitis Transmitted Through Breathing, Doctors Suggest Continue To Follow COVID-19 Health Protocols

Pediatrician Consultant Gastro Hepatology RSCM FKUI Prof. Hanifah Aswari. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Severe symptoms of acute hepatitis infect humans through the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Initial suspicion is caused by Adenovirus, SARS CoV-2, ABV virus and others.

"The virus mainly attacks the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract," said Pediatrician Consultant Gastro Hepatology RSCM FKUI Prof. Hanifah Aswari quoted by Antara, Thursday 5 May.

He said acute hepatitis with severe symptoms is suspected to have entered Indonesia after three children in Jakarta were reported to have died from infection.

The Ministry of Health is still conducting an investigation through a complete virus panel examination and an epidemiological investigation to find out more about the cause of this disease.

Although the exact cause of acute hepatitis in children is not known, Hanifah advises parents to increase awareness of the risk of the disease in children under the age of 16.

To prevent the risk of infection, Prof. Hanifah suggested the first step that could be done by maintaining personal and environmental hygiene.

"To prevent from the digestive tract, maintain cleanliness by washing hands with soap, making sure the food or drink consumed is cooked, not using eating utensils together with other people and avoiding contact with our children from sick people so that children we stay healthy," he said.

Hanifah, who is also a researcher at the RSCM, said that acute hepatitis is transmitted through the respiratory tract, so COVID-19 health protocols are needed, such as wearing masks, maintaining distance, and reducing mobility.

Another effort that can be made by the community to prevent transmission is the understanding of parents about the early symptoms of acute hepatitis.

Hanifah said that in general, the initial symptoms of acute hepatitis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by low-grade fever. Furthermore, the symptoms will get worse, such as thick urine like tea and dark stools.

If the child experiences these symptoms, he said, parents are asked to immediately check the child to the nearest health service facility to get an initial diagnosis.

"Don't wait until yellow symptoms appear, even until you lose consciousness, because this condition indicates that the hepatitis infection is very severe. If it's too late to get medical treatment, then the momentum for doctors to help patients is very small," he said.

He also suggested that children with these symptoms be taken to the nearest health service facility to get help from health workers.

"Don't wait until the symptoms are more severe, because if it's severe we lose the momentum to be able to help faster. Especially if there has been a decrease in consciousness, then the chance to save him is very small," he said.