Specialist Doctors Reveal How to Prevent Transmission of Acute Hepatitis in Children

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Consultant Gastrohepatology Pediatrician, Hanifah Oswari, revealed viruses that are suspected to be the cause of the disease acute hepatitis. Even so, he reminded, the etiology of this virus is still not known concretely, so it is still a mystery.

“Until now, although the cause is unknown, there are several viruses that play a role,” he said during an online press conference in Jakarta Ministry of HealthJakarta, Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Hanifah said, there are two viruses that are suspected to be behind the disease that has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an Extraordinary Event, namely Adenovirus type 41, SARS-CoV-2 or Covid-19, Cytomegalovirus or CMV, and Epstein-CoV virus. Barr or EBV.

Hanifah continued, the spread of acute hepatitis, which is still mysterious and attacks children under the age of 16, can be prevented. Among them by closing the entrance of this virus through the digestive and respiratory tracts.

“Well, most of these suspected viruses are transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract, so what we can do is prevent our children from getting infected through the entrance,” said Hanifah.

Prevention of the respiratory tract, he said, could be done by implementing the health protocols that have been used to prevent the transmission of Covid-19, for example using masks, maintaining distance, and not touching other people.

As for prevention from the gastrointestinal tract, according to Hanifah, it can be done by washing hands before eating and drinking, making sure the food and drinks to be consumed are cooked, and not using utensils together with other people.

“As well as avoiding our children’s contact with sick people. We can use health protocol which we generally know for the prevention of Covid-19 such as wearing masks, maintaining distance, and others,” he said.

On the other hand, Hanifah also denied that this acute hepatitis was triggered by the Covid-19 vaccine. Because, he argues, there is no direct evidence that shows a direct relationship between the Covid-19 vaccine triggering acute hepatitis. Covid-19 has not been proven directly to be the cause of this virus.

“Perhaps it was a concurrent event, but not as a direct cause. Therefore, linking the Covid-19 virus itself to the disease itself cannot be determined, especially with the Covid vaccine. Therefore, the news needs to be straightened out,” said Hanifah.

The Ministry of Health has increased its vigilance in the past two weeks after the World Health Organization declared an Extraordinary Event of Acute Hepatitis cases affecting children in Europe, America and Asia, and the cause has not been known since April 15, 2022.

This vigilance increased after three pediatric patients who were treated at the Dr. Ciptomangunkusumo Jakarta with a guess acute hepatitisdied in a different timeframe with a span of the last two weeks until April 30, 2022.

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