Prevent Hepatitis at School

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Elementary school students in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, shop for food in the canteen near the school without strict supervision, Tuesday (10/5/2022). Cases of acute hepatitis that attack children appear in many places on the island of Java. Even so, the school in Kendari has not yet received a thorough understanding of this case and has carried out normal learning.

After the school holiday and ahead of the new school year, many parents are worried about the cases of an unusual type of hepatitis, the cause of which has not been identified.

The Health Ministry noted that to date, Indonesia had recorded 15 suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin, including five fatal cases. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday (5/10/2022) that at least 348 suspected cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin had been detected in 21 countries, and thataAs many as 26 children needed liver transplants.

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The injury or death of a child can be an extraordinary loss for parents, communities, and the country, so serious and joint efforts are needed to prevent this.

Until now, schools do not have formal guidelines on how to prevent the disease from spreading. The Health Ministry said that prevention measures were being carried out in line with the general procedures for hepatitis, namely by following clean and healthy lifestyles (PHBS).

Other measures included avoiding contact with people who were sick, keeping the house and home environment clean, wearing masks while outside the home, reducing mobility, maintaining distance, and avoiding crowds.

The Health Ministry announced that acute hepatitis in children could be prevented by washing hands diligently with soap and running water, ensuring that food and drink are clean and cooked, and not sharing eating utensils with others, as well as other good hygiene habits. Other measures included avoiding contact with people who were sick, keeping the house and home environment clean, wearing masks while outside the home, reducing mobility, maintaining distance, and avoiding crowds.

According to the WHO, the cause of acute childhood hepatitis has not been determined. While an adenovirus had been detected in blood or plasma samples in many cases, they appeared in low amounts, and the virus had not been detected in liver tissue samples. The detection of adenovirus could be a coincidence, not a cause.

KOMPAS/ANDY RIZA HIDAYAT

A team of doctors checked the health of students at State High School 4 Depok, West Java, some time ago.

The WHO and affected countries are currently collecting additional data and conducting research. It is hoped that more evidence will be found in the coming weeks to determine the cause of the disease, so recommendations can be made on the appropriate measures for prevention, treatment and control.

Don't wait until they develop jaundice, seizures, or loss of consciousness.

Several things can be done while waiting for more information. People, especially parents, can learn to recognize the symptoms of acute hepatitis, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low-grade fever, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stool, yellow eyes and skin, seizures, and reduced consciousness. If the child shows early symptoms, they should be taken immediately to a health facility. Don't wait until they develop jaundice, seizures, or loss of consciousness.

Schools can help implementation the PHBS by maintaining food hygiene, providing handwashing facilities, and maintaining general cleanliness in the school environment, including toilets.

Stakeholders in the health sector can increase surveillance and treatment options according to the standards of disease management. In doing so, we can control the hepatitis outbreak and prevent deaths.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.