Experts advise parents not to panic and worry

Regarding acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children, in a recent livestream, Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Infectious Diseases Association, said parents should not be alarmed because many cases of HIV infection have been reported. mysterious hepatitis It may be due to a genetic condition, a metabolic disease, a weak liver, or they are suffering from hepatitis B. Most importantly, parents need to take their child to the hospital immediately when the child has generalized jaundice or dark urine.

1. Doubts surrounding the cause mysterious hepatitis in children

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 10, it has identified 348 possible cases of hepatitis of unknown origin worldwide, in the context of many studies investigating the potential role of hepatitis C. Adeno virus and COVID-19 infection.

Leading theories as to the cause of this mysterious hepatitis now lean towards the adenovirus, although there is considerable consideration of the role of COVID-19 as a co-infection or pre-existing disease.

Specifically, further tests over the past week have confirmed about 70% of cases that have tested positive for the common adenovirus type 41 commonly associated with gastritis.

Test results also showed that about 18% were positive for COVID-19. It is expected that next week’s studies will focus on learning about COVID-19 exposures and infections in cases.

Regarding this matter, Dr. Truong Huu Khanh The disease appeared first in advanced countries, scattered in many places, most notably the UK. The conditions are very similar, so the most likely cause is the virus, not the poisoning. To date, the biggest suspicion has focused on the adenovirus type 41, which causes unusually acute hepatitis in young children. If the Adeno virus is the cause of the mysterious acute hepatitis, then surely this virus has spread to many people in the country with endemic cases – Dr. Khanh said.

According to research, Adenovirus is a very common viral infection in humans, especially children. Nearly every child has had at least one adenovirus infection before age 10.

Adenovirus type 41 is spread by the fecal-oral route and mainly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is a common cause of acute gastroenteritis in children, typically with diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, often with respiratory symptoms. Adenovirus is recognized as a cause of hepatitis in immunocompromised children.

It is known that inflammation is a general immune response to infection or injury – a sign the body is trying to fight an underlying disease. The causes can vary, but in children, hepatitis is often associated with a viral infection. The most common of these are five hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D and E. Other viruses such as Adenovirus, CMV, EBV, etc. can cause hepatitis, but this is very rare.

Therefore, mysterious cases of hepatitis in children are still being searched by experts to determine the exact cause of this disease.

2. Need to wash hands, wear a mask properly and when there are signs of suspected hepatitis, need to go to the doctor

Many parents worry about what to do to prevent mysterious hepatitis in children and when to see a doctor. According to experts, if it is caused by a virus (including Adeno virus), you should not be too alarmed, but need to take measures such as washing hands and wearing a mask properly to prevent disease.

For Adeno virus, if infected, there will be abdominal pain, diarrhea, respiratory inflammation. In the case of Adeno causing hepatitis in young children, most of them recovered on their own, but there was a proportion (unidentified) with acute hepatitis, liver transplantation or death. But currently the reports of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause, the number of children infected with danger is not much.

Sharing about this issue, according to Dr. Khanh, in a situation where the virus invades, if our body is not attacked by Adeno much on the liver, the infected person will have flu-like symptoms. The risk group is young children with special backgrounds, with metabolic diseases or with pre-existing hepatitis B, the attack of the adeno virus will cause more serious liver damage. Children are required to be treated in hospital like other acute viral hepatitis cases, to help the liver recover gradually.

Note, parents absolutely do not let children take drugs arbitrarily. Parents should not panic. Most importantly, parents need to take the child to the hospital immediately when the child has generalized jaundice or dark urine – Dr. Khanh recommends.