The Ministry Of Health Holds Epidemiological Investigations To Anticipate Acute Hepatitis Which Is Still A Mystery

Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Brian Sriprahastuti (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health is conducting cross-sectoral epidemiological investigations (surveillance) to anticipate acute hepatitis of unknown aetiologist.

Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Brian Sriprahastuti, in a written statement in Jakarta, Friday, May 6, said that the investigation and increase vigilance so that action can be taken as soon as possible if cases are found with symptoms and signs of acute hepatitis, especially in children under the age of 11 years.

"Investigation of the cause of acute hepatitis is carried out in each case, perhaps through a complete virus panel examination", Brian said as quoted by Antara.

The government has also issued a circular addressed to health care facilities, local governments, port health offices (KKP), and stakeholders, to provide support and early alertness to the discovery of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause.

The phenomenon of acute hepatitis with no known cause became the world's spotlight after the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) declared it an Extraordinary Event (KLB) on April 15, 2022. WHO received reports of 169 cases in 12 countries, including Indonesia.

In Indonesia, in the last two weeks or until April 30, 2022, it was reported that three pediatric patients died while being treated at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, with suspected acute hepatitis.

According to Brian, acute hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that occurs suddenly and can get worse quickly. He described the general symptoms of hepatitis, namely, abdominal pain, jaundice, diarrhea, vomiting, urine color changes, pale stools, high fever, or a history of fever, and characterized by elevated levels of liver enzymes.

"If you find a child experiencing symptoms like that, they are immediately taken to a hospital or health facility because if treatment is delayed, liver function failure will occur, which is marked by impaired consciousness", he said.

Brian said so far the cause of acute hepatitis which is now an outbreak is unknown. That's because, from the results of laboratory tests, no hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses were found that generally cause hepatitis.

Regarding the news of the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 or Adenovirus in some cases, according to Brian, this has not been proven.

"Until now it has not been proven that the two viruses are the cause. Further investigations to look for both biological and chemical causes are still being carried out", he said,

Brian appealed to the public not to panic, to remain calm, to be careful, and take steps to prevent infection.

"This is done by washing hands, drinking clean boiled water, eating clean and fully cooked food, disposing of feces and disposable diapers (diapers) in place, using their own eating utensils, wearing masks, and keeping a distance", said Brian Sriprahastuti.