No Specific Pathogens Found
Meanwhile, in the “Development Update of Acute Hepatitis Cases in Indonesia” press conference held on Wednesday (18/05/2022), Ministry of Health Spokesman dr. Mohammad Syahril, Sp.P, MPH, declared that not all jaundice cases mark the incidence of this etiologically unknown acute hepatitis.
“Jaundice in babies are mostly caused by bilirubin problems, not acute hepatitis. The six patients who later passed away came to the hospital suffering from intense symptoms, but none of them had a history of Covid-19 infection. For precaution, parents should immediately have their children checked in a hospital if they suffer from fevers, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, acute diarrhea, weakness, and/or malaise at the same time,” he said.
Responding to the new Government policy of loosening medical mask usage requirements, dr. Syahril stated that since many diseases, including Covid-19 and acute hepatitis, can be transferred through respiration, “We need to maintain the mask-distancing-handwashing health protocols, especially to prevent catching Covid-19 and this etiologically unknown acute hepatitis.” (est)