Expert: The possibility of mysterious hepatitis entering Vietnam is very high

The infection rate is not as fast as COVID-19

Talking to Thanh Nien on May 5, Dr. Nguyen Thu Anh, Director of Woolcock Medical Research Institute Vietnam (University of Sydney, Australia), said that according to statistics of the above countries, worldcurrently 228 children in more than 20 countries are infected Hepatitis acute illness of unknown etiology, not including 50 cases under investigation. In which, about 10% required a liver transplant, 5 deaths.

“It’s not clear at the moment how fast the infection is spread, but initially it’s not as fast COVID-19″, Ms. Thu Anh assessed.

According to Dr. Thu Anh, the exact cause of this disease is still unknown, but scientists are suspecting it Adenovirus because the virus was found in many children. But not all children are infected with adenovirus. Adenovirus is spread by direct contact with respiratory droplets or surfaces contaminated with the virus.

Liver biopsies in some children showed no signs of viral infection. Some studies suggest that whole blood rather than plasma should be tested for adenovirus.

Symptoms of the disease include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and elevated liver enzymes. Current treatment is symptomatic treatment, in severe cases, liver transplantation.

“Most children with hepatitis do not receive the Covid-19 vaccine, so the vaccine is not the cause. It is still not possible to identify which groups of children are susceptible to this mysterious hepatitis,” said Dr.

According to Dr. Thu Anh, the possibility of the virus entering Vietnam is very high and unavoidable. Therefore, doctors and medical staff need to be alert to detect and report cases, update information in the world, parents monitor symptoms in children, especially jaundice, yellow eyes, keep personal hygiene multiply for children.

Test results showed that the child was negative for viruses that cause common hepatitis illustration: shutterstock

It is important to detect and treat the disease early

On the same day (May 5), Doctor Truong Huu Khanh, Consultant of Infection – Neurology, Children’s Hospital 1, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Union of Infectious Diseases, said the cause of the disease. mysterious hepatitis most likely due to adenovirus 41.

According to Dr. Khanh, compared with the rate of COVID-19 infection, this infection rate is very low and spread, showing that there is a special location, for example, children who are immunocompromised or have no immunity to the virus since childhood. adenos 41.

“The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract, but not all babies exposed to the virus are infected, the infection rate is scattered. Therefore, what can be done is early detection for treatment, not preventive measures such as: isolated,” said Dr. Khanh.

According to Dr. Khanh, currently in Vietnam, no cases have been detected, but the possibility of entering Vietnam is completely possible, if it does, it will appear scatteredly, its task is to detect it early and treat it. The adenovirus 41 cannot cause an epidemic, so there is no need to panic.

The main treatment method is conservative, taking medicine, resting, eating according to the liver failure regime, in more severe cases, liver dialysis, liver transplant.