Symptoms, Causes, and Ways to Prevent Acute Hepatitis in Children According to Singapore Doctors All

SINGAPOREKOMPAS.com – Last week, a 10-month-old boy in Singapore found to have hepatitis acute with unknown or mysterious causes.

Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) informed the public of the case in a statement on April 30.

MOH later said that an investigation was ongoing to determine whether the cases were similar to those in the recent global outbreak.

Read also: Acute Hepatitis in Children, why is it called a mysterious disease and different from the existing types?

Globally, more than 200 cases acute hepatitis with unknown causes have been reported in children in 17 countries.

MOH added that they are monitoring the situation closely and have informed all medical practitioners to be on the lookout for small children showing signs and symptoms. mysterious hepatitis.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the case had a similar presentation to the cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause reported internationally and by the World Health Organization,” MOH said.

The following is a description of the symptoms, causes, and ways to prevent them acute hepatitis in children from experts in Singapore who can be listened to:

How much should parents worry about acute hepatitis?

Reported from Channel NewsAsia (CNA), Head of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Services at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) Singapore, Dr Chiou Fang Kuan, said, “On the other hand, parents should watch out for signs of hepatitis and seek medical attention if they are concerned that their children may have hepatitis. their child has the disease.

Read also: Adenovirus Suspected to Cause Mysterious Hepatitis in Children in Several Countries

Dr Nancy Tan from the SBCC Infant and Child Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena, Singapore, said parents should be alert and know about what to watch out for, but there was no need to be “too worried” as the number of cases was not high.

However, given that there have been four deaths, including three reported in Indonesia in the global outbreak and 17 cases requiring transplantation, Dr Ang Ai Tin, Consultant Pediatrician at Thomson Pediatric Centre, thinks cases of acute hepatitis should be “a concern”.

Dr. Tan who is trained in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition said, symptoms of acute hepatitis in children whose cause is not yet known with certainty it is not specific.

According to him, symptoms can include:

1. Stomach ache
2. Diarrhea
3. Vomiting

“However, the most important sign is jaundice (yellowing of the whites of the eyes),” he says.

Read also: 228 Alleged Cases of Mysterious Acute Hepatitis in Children Reported to WHO from 20 Countries

Other symptoms of hepatitis include dark, pale urine, gray stools, itchy skin and muscle or joint pain, doctors say.

Dr Chan Si Min, head of the pediatric infectious disease department at Khoo Teck Puat National University Children’s Medical Institute, Singapore noted that the acute hepatitis cases currently under investigation mainly affect healthy young children under 10 years of age.

Dr Ang said that the virus detected and suspected in cases worldwide that may be linked to the Singapore case is adenovirus type 41F.

“Adenovirus does not usually cause hepatitis in children, but in such exposed children, there may be cofactors, such as a toxin or previous viral infection,” he said.

Read also: WHO Believes Global Covid-19 Death Toll Is Three Times Bigger

Dr Chan also noted that adenovirus was found in many of the reported cases.

“This is a virus with many genetic variants and types. Infection occurs at all ages, although especially in young children, and at any time of year,” he said.

Dr Chan explained, adenovirus usually causes fever, respiratory diseases such as cough, runny nose, sore throat and gastroenteritis.

Dr Chan added that the adenovirus is spread through droplets or respiratory secretions.

Adenovirus can also be spread through direct contact with an infected person, feces, or contaminated surfaces.

“It can survive on environmental surfaces for a long time. People who are infected are most contagious in the first few days of illness,” he said.

Dr Chiou said infections, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, liver injury from drugs or toxins are some of the known possible causes of hepatitis.

“However, in up to 40 percent of cases of severe hepatitis, no cause is found despite extensive investigations,” he said.

Read also: Mysterious Acute Hepatitis Outbreak in Children Spreads to Asia and Canada

Dr Chiou said, as children remain vulnerable to infectious diseases in childhood, parents should remain vigilant, even as Singapore’s pandemic response initiatives wane.

Related how to prevent acute hepatitis which is thought to be caused by an adenovirus, he said that the recommended standard of good hygiene which includes good hand hygiene and caution is good.

In addition, cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in settings where small children are present, should always be practiced.

Do vaccinations offer protection?

“The cause of global acute hepatitis cases is unknown at this stage, so it is too early to determine whether routine vaccinations under the national immunization schedule protect against this type of hepatitis,” said Dr Chiou.

Meanwhile, Dr Ang views, routine childhood vaccines do not protect against acute hepatitis because hepatitis A and B in the vaccination schedule protect against viruses A and B specifically.

Read also: Causes of Acute Hepatitis in Children, Here are Some Suspicions

What to do if the child is sick?

Dr Tan recommends seeing a doctor if your child is unwell.

“The presentation of hepatitis may be unclear (initially), so it is always advisable to return to the doctor if it does not improve 48 to 72 hours after the consultation or earlier if the condition worsens,” he said.

Dr Chan said blood tests could be done to confirm liver inflammation, and samples could be sent to detect the presence of adenovirus and other infections.

Meanwhile, Dr Chiou explained, most of the available treatments can support the treatment of acute hepatitis.

“It’s focused primarily on monitoring and treating complications of liver disease, and investigating and managing the underlying cause where possible,” said Dr Chiou.

“In a minority of patients, acute hepatitis can lead to severe and sudden liver failure that may require organ transplantation,” he added.

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