Ministry of Health requires close monitoring of ‘mysterious’ hepatitis in children

According to the Ministry of Health, although Vietnam has so far not recorded a “mysterious” case of acute hepatitis, but in the face of an increase in cases around the world, the Ministry has strengthened its directing, inspection and surveillance work. closely monitor and summarize the situation and analyze the epidemiology of hepatitis of unknown cause.

Medical units must coordinate with localities to analyze suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause and immediately report unusual cases, at the same time assess risks and propose preventive measures. in Viet Nam.

Earlier on May 6, the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) also sent an urgent dispatch to the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute requesting enhanced surveillance of acute hepatitis of unknown cause.

According to the Department of Preventive Health, an update from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that, as of May 3, the world recorded 228 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause in 20 countries in the world. Europe, Southeast Asia, Western Pacific region, of which 4 deaths.

The disease occurs in children from 1 month to 16 years old. Most pediatric patients recover completely, but some become severe, nearly 10% of cases require liver transplantation. The above cases of acute hepatitis were identified with abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and markedly elevated liver enzymes.

The majority of reported cases were without fever and undetected infection with common viruses that cause acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, B, C, D and E). The exact cause of hepatitis in these children is unknown and investigation is ongoing. However, initial indications are that cases occur in high endemic areas of the adenovirus.

In order to actively monitor cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause in Vietnam and promptly implement measures to prevent and minimize the number of cases and deaths, the Department of Preventive Health recommends that the Institutes of Hygiene Central Epidemiology and Epidemiology, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute, Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, Central Highlands Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology are closely monitoring, synthesizing the situation and analyzing the epidemiology of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in the world. .

According to reports at the National Children’s Hospital, a number of cases of children with liver damage have been recorded so far. However, these are pediatric patients with Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C syndrome) following COVID-19 infection. Currently, the National Children’s Hospital has not recorded cases of individual liver damage or liver damage related to Adenovirus.

At the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, MSc Nguyen Trung Trung, deputy director of the hospital, said that the hospital is still closely monitoring hospitalized children with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. examination and diagnosis. As soon as the world identifies the strain of the virus that causes acute hepatitis, the hospital’s testing system will quickly coordinate to monitor the situation in Vietnam.