Recently, several countries have reported unexplained cases of acute hepatitis in children. World Health Organization spokesman Yasarevich said on May 3 that as of May 1, at least 228 cases of hepatitis of unknown etiology had been reported from 20 countries. The National Health Commission said that at present, no relevant cases have been found on the mainland. The situation is being closely monitored and continuously monitored.
Characteristics of the manifestations of acute hepatitis in children of unknown origin
What are the manifestations of acute hepatitis in children of unknown origin? According to the National Health Commission, the common characteristics of children with this acute hepatitis are:
Age 1 month to 16 years old, mostly under 10 years old;
jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal symptoms (including diarrhea and vomiting), and most children are fever-free;
Laboratory liver biochemical tests for transaminases (AST or ALT) are markedly elevated.
Global findings of acute hepatitis in unexplained children
The latest response from the Health Commission
At present, no relevant cases have been found in the mainland, and health administrative departments and medical institutions at all levels are paying close attention to and continuously monitoring the relevant situation.
General Administration of Customs: Strictly prevent the introduction of acute severe hepatitis in children of unknown cause
The General Administration of Customs requires customs throughout the country to strengthen quarantine inspection work such as health declaration, body temperature monitoring, medical inspection and other quarantine inspections for inbound passengers from countries/regions with case reports, and to carry out medical screening in accordance with the prescribed procedures for passengers with abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and jaundice who voluntarily declare or are found at the scene.
After medical investigation, passengers suspected of having acute severe hepatitis of children of unknown cause should be transferred to designated medical institutions for further diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner, and follow-up should be done.
WHO: Hepatitis is not a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine
A recent world health organization survey showed that because the vast majority of children with acute hepatitis of unknown cause have not been vaccinated against the new crown virus, the assumptions related to the new crown virus vaccine are not currently supported.
The consequences can be severe, and contagiousness is still worth vigilance
As the current cases are still relatively rare, in the Uk, which has the largest number of cases, experts still reassure the public, reminding parents that there is no need to overreact, but should pay attention to whether the child has symptoms such as loss of appetite, itchy skin, high fever, vomiting and diarrhea, and seek pediatric medical advice if necessary. In contrast, some experts in Europe are more pessimistic: the severity of these cases is "very worrying", and some patients in the UK even need liver transplants. "Because we don't know the cause, we don't know the route of transmission and how to prevent and treat it."
"All people should strictly follow hygiene measures, because hepatitis is contagious." Medical experts issue a reminder.
Characteristics of the manifestations of acute hepatitis in children of unknown origin
What are the manifestations of acute hepatitis in children of unknown origin? According to the National Health Commission, the common characteristics of children with this acute hepatitis are:
Age 1 month to 16 years old, mostly under 10 years old;
jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, drowsiness, and gastrointestinal symptoms (including diarrhea and vomiting), and most children are fever-free;
Laboratory liver biochemical tests for transaminases (AST or ALT) are markedly elevated.
How is acute hepatitis prevented in children?
There are many causes of acute hepatitis in children, with the main route of infection passing through the digestive tract and bloodstream.
1. Avoid children going to public places with crowded people and no air circulation, and cut off droplet contact and fecal-oral transmission routes.
2. Ensure adequate sleep and nutrition for children, regularly wash children's clothes and frequently touched items, wash their hands frequently, wear masks, and maintain social distancing.
3. If children with jaundice, gastrointestinal symptoms and other hepatitis diseases need to seek medical treatment in time, it is recommended to check the liver biochemical indicators, and do blood, urine, feces and respiratory samples and other related pathogen tests to further determine whether the child has acute hepatitis and possible causes.
(Comprehensive source: Beijing Daily client, Shangguan News client, Customs release, Healthy China, National Health Commission website)