IDAI Says Acute Hepatitis Has Nothing To Do With The COVID-19 Vaccine, Here Are The Facts

Head of IDAI's Gastro-Hepatology Coordination Work Unit (UKK), Dr Muzal Kadim, SpA(K). (Zoom Screenshot Photo)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) emphasized that acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology is not associated with COVID-19 vaccination.

Head of IDAI's Gastro-Hepatology Coordination Work Unit (UKK), Dr Muzal Kadim, SpA(K) said most of the acute hepatitis cases occurred in children who had not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Currently, acute severe hepatitis is not associated with the COVID-19 vaccine because most of the cases that appear at this time have not been vaccinated. Because most of them are children under the age of 6 years and even under 2 years, if there are many in the UK. It has not been vaccinated against COVID-19. So until now it has not been associated with a vaccine," he said in a virtual discussion, Saturday, May 7.

Furthermore, Muzal said, cases of acute hepatitis associated with COVID-19 were still a conjecture. Is it coincidental (concurrent) or a direct cause.

"Because at this time it is not specific for COVID-19 symptoms and what is found is also not typical for COVID-19 symptoms, sometimes as a concurrent coincidence. So something is found that is also COVID-19, it is also found which adenovirus causes it is also still being found. not yet (known)," he said.

According to Muzal, until now in several countries are still investigating the exact cause of acute hepatitis that occurs in children.

For your information, 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.