Ministry Of Health Reveals Severe Symptoms Of Acute Hepatitis In Children Are Seizures, Felt 2 Weeks Early

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi. (BNPB Doc)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) Siti Nadia Tarmizi revealed that severe symptoms experienced by children with acute hepatitis generally occur within a span of two weeks. At that time the child experienced loss of consciousness or seizures.

"That's why it's called severe acute hepatitis, because within 14 days the affected person will have a seizure and there will be a decrease in consciousness, if normal hepatitis does not cause a seizure," said Nadia, who was confirmed in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 17 afternoon.

Nadia said the research team studied the indication for one of three pediatric patients who were reported to have died at different times at the end of April 2022 at Cipto Mangkusumo Hospital (RSCM) Jakarta.

"One of the three cases of death in Jakarta is probable acute hepatitis with severe symptoms for which the cause is unknown," she said, as quoted by Antara.

Nadia explained, the classification of mysterious probable hepatitis was marked by non-reactive reports on examination of hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E as well as other viruses, such as dengue and adenovirus 41.

Nadia said the Indonesian Ministry of Health was strengthening the role of diagnosing patients with hepatitis symptoms in all Public Health Centers in the country. Because, the key to preventing cases of death in patients is the speed of diagnosis and medical treatment.

"The nature of yellow fever vigilance. Whatever the symptoms, the Puskesmas must go down to check the environment, take a sample of the patient's feces and examine it. The health center will see whether a referral to a hospital is necessary or not," he said.

According to the Ministry of Health's daily report as of May 15, 2022 at 16.00 p.m., the total number of suspected cases of acute hepatitis in Indonesia is 18 patients with two probable classifications, 16 pending classifications and zero epi-linked (non-hepatitis AE virus, close contact with probable cases since October 1, 2021).

Meanwhile, based on patient status, six of them died (two probable, four pending classifications), eight were still being treated (eight pending classifications), four were discharged (four pending classifications).