Nghe An increases sampling and testing of suspected cases of acute hepatitis

Tien Hung DNUM_BCZAFZCACC 09:51

(Baonghean.vn) - The Department of Health requires public and non-public medical examination and treatment facilities to increase testing of suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause at medical facilities to determine the cause.

On May 12, the Nghe An Department of Health said that it had just sent a document on strengthening the monitoring of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause to the Provincial Center for Disease Control, the Medical Centers of districts, towns and Vinh city and medical examination and treatment facilities inside and outside the public sector.

Accordingly, the Department of Health requests units to continue to strongly implement activities to prevent and control viral hepatitis according to Plan No. 231/KH-UBND dated April 8, 2012 of the Provincial People's Committee on the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in Nghe An province, period 2022-2025 and the direction of the Department of Health in Official Dispatch No. 1425/SYT-NVY dated April 12, 2022.

Ảnh minh họa.
Illustration photo.

Public and non-public medical examination and treatment facilities are responsible for increasing the sampling and testing of suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause at medical facilities to determine the cause. If any unusual cases of unknown cause are detected, please immediately report to the Department of Health (Provincial Center for Disease Control) for timely monitoring and direction.

At the same time, it is necessary to carry out good examination and screening to detect early cases of hepatitis virus infection for timely treatment and management to limit complications. Comply with the professional guidelines of the Ministry of Health in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with viral hepatitis.

For medical examination and treatment facilities with delivery rooms: continue to strengthen the implementation of hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, especially within the first 24 hours after birth.

Nghe An Department of Health also requested the Provincial Center for Disease Control and District Health Centers to strengthen the implementation of hepatitis B vaccination coverage for children of vaccination age at medical facilities to achieve the set rate and ensure safety, not allowing areas with low hepatitis B vaccination rates for children, especially for infants.

The Provincial Center for Disease Control is responsible for synthesizing and reporting the results of monitoring suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause according to the instructions of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), up to now, there have been nearly 300 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause in children aged 0-16 years old in at least 20 countries, of which 9 cases have died.

Vietnam has not recorded any cases of acute hepatitis. However, given the dangerous level of the disease, in recent days the Ministry of Health has continuously issued documents requesting units to strengthen the control of acute hepatitis of unknown cause.

Children with the disease have symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and significantly increased liver enzymes. The patient does not have a fever and is not infected with common viruses that cause hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Most children with the disease will recover completely, 10% of severe cases require a liver transplant.

Tien Hung