Information from Risk Communications released by Cievs/MS shows cases are between zero and 16 years old
With three confirmed cases in Mato Grosso do Sul, the state is one of nine in Brazil being monitored by the ministry health Causes of the occurrence of acute childhood hepatitis of unknown origin. There are 44 cases nationwide, of which 14 are in So Paulo.
Information from the Risk Release issued by Cievs/MS (Center for Strategic Surveillance Information in) health) learned on May 12 that cases occur in people under the age of 17 and an alert was issued to municipal secretariats to promptly identify, investigate and report potential cases.
On 10th, the ministry participated in a meeting with a group of experts from WHO (for World Organization) health) and representatives of eight countries (United Kingdom, Spain, United States, Canada, France, Portugal, Colombia and Argentina) in the technical areas of emergency public healthInfectology, Pediatrics and Epidemiology, to discuss the evidence available to date.
A day earlier, Folder published a technical note with guidance from the state and municipal secretariats health On notification, investigation and laboratory flow of possible cases of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in children and adolescents. As the evidence on the disease is still very dynamic, the Status Cell should update the guidelines from time to time.
What is known – Hepatitis of unknown origin has affected children in at least 20 countries. The disease manifests itself in a very severe form and is not directly related to the known viruses of the disease. In about 10% of cases, liver transplantation was necessary.
According to the WHO, more than 200 cases, as of the last day of 29 April, were reported in the United Kingdom, the most (163) in the world. The disease mainly affects children between the ages of one month and 16 years. So far one patient has died.
In a statement issued on 23 April, the WHO said that there is no link between the disease and the vaccines used against COVID-19. “The hypotheses concerning the side effects of vaccines against COVID-19 are not supported because most affected children have not received vaccination against COVID-19”.
Symptom – According to PAHO, the WHO branch in the Americas and the Caribbean, patients with acute hepatitis had gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and jaundice (when the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow). There was no record of fever.
Current treatment attempts to reduce symptoms and stabilize the patient if the case is severe. Treatment recommendations should be refined once the source of infection has been determined.
Parents should be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of jaundice such as diarrhea or vomiting. In such cases, medical attention should be sought immediately.
