Diligent hand washing is the key to preventing acute hepatitis
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Disease hepatitis The acute disease that is currently sweeping the world is thought to have entered Indonesia after three children were reported to have died from being infected with this mysterious disease. Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin asked the public to increase vigilance and take preventive measures, one of which is maintaining personal hygiene.
“This virus is transmitted through food intake through the mouth, so if we can wash our hands diligently so that we make sure what enters our children, it attacks many under 16 years old, more under 5 years old, it’s clean,” he said. Minister of Health in a press statement after attending a meeting chaired by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Monday (09/05/2022).
In general, the initial symptoms of acute hepatitis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by low-grade fever. Furthermore, the symptoms will get worse, such as thick urine like tea and pale white bowel movements. The Minister of Health requested that parents immediately check their children with these symptoms to the nearest health service facility to get an initial diagnosis.
“If he defecates and then he has a fever, then check his SGPT-SGOT. If it is above 100, it is better to be referred to the nearest health facility. The SGPT-SGOT is normally in the 30s, if it has risen a bit high, it should be referred to the nearest health facility,” he said.
Minister of Health revealed, currently there are 15 cases of suspected or suspected acute hepatitis. The first three cases in Indonesia were reported on April 27, a few days after the World Health Organization or WHO reported an extraordinary event or outbreak in Europe of this disease in Europe.
The Minister of Health said that his party was following up on this incident by making a Circular (SE) regarding Awareness of Discoveries Acute Hepatitis Case Unknown Etiology (Acute Hepatitis Of Unknown Aetiology)
“On April 27, we have immediately issued a circular so that all hospitals and health offices carry out surveillance monitoring of this case,” he said.
Budi added that his party had also communicated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States and the British Government to obtain information about this disease.
“Indeed, the conclusion is that it is not yet certain what virus is one hundred percent causing this acute hepatitis. Now research is being carried out jointly by Indonesia, in collaboration with WHO and also we work with America (United States) and Britain, to be able to quickly detect the cause of this disease. It is most likely adenovirus strain 41, but there are also many cases where there is no adenovirus strain 41,” he said
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