The Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health (INS) confirm the first case of severe acute hepatitis of unknown origin. After the INS obtained the last two laboratory results on Saturday afternoon, from the samples received last Friday and processed by the institution that same day, which complete the diagnostic algorithm.
(Keep reading: WHO reports 429 cases of acute childhood hepatitis, most in Europe)
The patient is a two-year-old boy, diagnosed with cholestatic hepatitis who presented liver failure, with positive PCR for Adenovirus and covid-19. In this case, as in others reported in the world, the antecedent was manifested by Sars-CoV-2 and adenovirus.
(Also: Hepatitis surveillance has been carried out for more than 20 years in Colombia)
According to the entity, The minor presented a clinical picture that lasted almost six weeks, from the onset of symptoms until his favorable evolution and discharge. In addition, he did not require a liver transplant.
(Of your interest: Colombia has the conditions to detect cases of childhood hepatitis)
The World Health Organization, WHO, has reported 650 cases worldwide. In
Latin America, there are already 15 cases detected in Argentina, Mexico and Panama, in addition to the confirmed case in the country.
In Colombia, the National Institute of Health generated on May 17 new
recommendations to health service providers on the international alert and
published case definitions for severe acute hepatitis.
For now, the evidence seems to point to a kind of hepatitis that causes
mild adenovirus infections are more severe or trigger liver damage and
affect the immune system. It is also related to previous infection by the virus of the
covid-19.
The INS maintains intensified surveillance of respiratory viruses and the indication
to report only those hepatitis that meet the probable case definition.
For his part, Franklyn Prieto, director of Public Health Surveillance and Risk Analysis of the INS, recommended that the population not stop vaccinating children against covid-19.
The evidence so far has not shown that the vaccine leads to the presentation of the disease, because the majority of children who have developed this type of hepatitis have not been vaccinated.
The second very important thing is that the evidence tells us that it is not a contagious disease or that it is transmitted from person to person. The other
recommendation is to be attentive to warning signs such as changes in body color and gastro-intestinal difficulties.
(Also read: What is new acute hepatitis and what are its symptoms? )
If they show up, it is important to consult health services and protect children from respiratory infections with the measures that we already know such as hand washing and the use of face masks if respiratory disease occurs.
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–There are 190 cases of acute childhood hepatitis with no known cause
–What is known about hepatitis of unknown origin that affects children