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Alert for acute hepatitis, when do children need liver function tests?

Muzal appealed to the public not to panic and continue to live a healthy life.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Covid-19 pandemic has not yet fully recovered, the world is again shocked by hepatitis cases mysterious acute. The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) states hepatitis severe acute disease which until now has not known for sure the cause as an extraordinary event (KLB).

So far, the suspected suspect is Adenovirus. The Indonesian Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) through the Director General of Disease Prevention and Control issued a circular regarding the Precautions for Case Finding Acute Hepatitis Unknown Aetiology (Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Aetiology) on 27 April 2022.

Head of the Gastro-Hepatology Coordination Unit (UKK) of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) Muzal Kadim said parents need not panic if their child has a liver function test. Liver function examination was carried out by checking the levels of Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGPT) and Serum Glutamoc Oxaloecetic Transminase (SGOT).

“There’s no need to panic, in general the SGPT and SGOT checks are to filter out current conditions,” Muzal said in a live broadcast on his account. Instagram IDAI, Sunday (8/5/2022).

If there is an increase in SGPT and SGOT levels, it may be a sign of hepatitis. For now, the benchmark level is more than 500 U/L.

Examination is done if there is suspicion of hepatitis symptoms. For example, there are signs of fever, fatigue, no appetite, nausea, especially yellow discoloration of the eyes and body.

“The Ministry of Health has issued a flow that if there are symptoms early on, we must immediately check the SGPT and SGOT. If the results are more than 500 U/L, there will be further inspections,” said Muzal.

Muzal said, specifically for this acute hepatitis, the symptoms look a little different. Sometimes after a fever, a yellow discoloration occurs. In fact, it can quickly become fulminant hepatitis which is classified as severe because it causes severe liver damage, almost no liver reserves.

Even so, Muzal appealed to the public not to panic and continue to live a healthy life.

“We are alert but not panicking. Pray that the case doesn’t exist or if there is, it doesn’t spread widely. No need to worry, we prepare everything in advance so it’s not too late. Don’t forget to always take care of your health and keep implementing health procedures,” explained Muzal.

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