Mysterious hepatitis recorded in 20 countries, how proactive is Vietnam to prevent?

According to the Ministry of Health, our country has not yet recorded cases of children with acute hepatitis of unknown cause. However, in order to proactively prevent, the Ministry has strengthened the direction, inspection and supervision, and requested the units to closely monitor, summarize the situation, and analyze the epidemiology of this disease.

The Health sector requires medical units to coordinate with localities in analyzing suspected cases, at the same time reporting unusual cases, assessing risks, and proposing prevention measures.

In a dispatch sent to the Department of Health of the provinces and centrally-run cities on May 9, the Ministry of Health asked the Director of the Department of Health to focus on directing to increase sampling of suspected cases to determine the cause. If abnormality is detected, the unit should immediately report it to the Ministry of Health for timely monitoring and direction. The Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health) also previously issued a dispatch to the Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute requesting enhanced surveillance of this disease.

Closely monitored by medical facilities

Medical facilities and specialized hospitals all strengthen surveillance and closely monitor the mysterious hepatitis disease.

At the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, according to Deputy Director, MSc.BS Nguyen Trung Trung, WHO and scientists are still trying to identify the virus that causes liver damage in children. As soon as the world determines the virus strain causing the disease, the hospital’s laboratory system will immediately coordinate to monitor developments in Vietnam.

“In the past few days, the hospital has closely monitored the case of young children admitted to the hospital with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, and at the same time examined to determine if the child had liver damage. In terms of outpatient treatment, it is still possible to continue to monitor other developments in liver damage to be more proactive in disease detection and prevention.” Mr. Level said.

The National Children’s Hospital has so far recorded a number of cases of children with liver damage. However, these are pediatric patients with Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C syndrome) following COVID-19 infection. Currently, the hospital has not recorded cases of individual liver damage or liver damage related to Adenovirus. Like other hospitals, the hospital is closely monitoring the situation of hospitalized children to have a timely treatment plan.

To proactively prevent acute hepatitis in children, the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City recommends that medical facilities, especially pediatric hospitals in the area strengthen detection of acute hepatitis cases. Hospitals consult with the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) to collect information and samples, test for infectious agents such as Adenovirus and other agents if necessary. yes.

What should Vietnamese parents do?

According to Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, former Head of the Department of Infection – Neurology, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, in the case of acute hepatitis caused by the adenovirus, to proactively prevent the disease, people need to pay attention to fish hygiene. regularly such as washing hands, disinfecting, wearing masks, eating hygienically…

If a child is found to have acute hepatitis, the family should take the child to the hospital and take care as recommended by the doctor, not too worried. During the monitoring process, if the child has jaundice, dark urine, etc., immediately notify the health agency for early screening test.

“In fact, acute hepatitis or other liver diseases all have the same treatment direction, which is to keep the liver in a healthy condition, without further damage. Families need to calmly listen to the doctor’s recommendations. In particular, parents should not let their children take drugs indiscriminately. If the baby is suffering from hepatitis, if he takes drugs indiscriminately, his liver will be damaged quickly, the disease will be aggravated, making it difficult to treat.” BS Khanh said.

This expert also recommends that people pay attention to monitor the situation health If you see any signs of hepatitis such as dark urine, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, extreme fatigue, etc., parents need to take their child to the hospital soon. Hepatitis is detected early, treated promptly, with the right method, it will recover very well, without causing long-term complications.

“If caused by the adenovirus, early treatment will soon recover without causing long-term complications such as chronic hepatitis. In addition, Adeno’s characteristic is that it spreads very quickly, but mainly causes severe disease in children with weak resistance, immunodeficiency and weak body. Parents should not be too confused, worried, need to be very calm, pay attention to monitor their children’s health and try to give them enough food and sleep to improve their resistance and fight diseases. disability”, BS Khanh said.

Sharing the same opinion, Dr. Nguyen Trung Trung stated, to be proactive in preventing and treating hepatitis in children, parents need to closely monitor their children’s health. When children appear warning signs, parents need to take their children to the hospital soon for examination and liver function tests. Based on the test results, the doctor will diagnose whether the child has liver damage and how the treatment will be.

“The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases is closely monitoring hospitalized children with fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., to be proactive in examining and identifying pathology. As soon as the world has identified the virus strain causing the disease, the hospital’s testing system will quickly coordinate to monitor the situation in Vietnam.” BS Level said.