The disease "jaundice" continues to spread in areas around Tripoli, where it first appeared, and has now extended to neighboring regions, including Akkar. Despite the considerable commotion surrounding the outbreak, cases are being treated at home, leading to a decrease in hospital admissions in Tripoli. Similar to Tripoli, the disease has reached Akkar, where numerous cases are reported in various towns and villages.
The spread of the illness has understandably caused concern among parents for their children, especially since fear had already set in when they heard about cases in Tripoli. However, the greater worry stems from parents' inability to admit their children to hospitals due to rising healthcare costs, which have become dollar-denominated in the absence of any entities guaranteeing support.
There is also concern that most mothers are unaware of the disease and its symptoms. Upon observing signs such as yellowing of the skin or diarrhea in children, their thoughts immediately turn to the possibility of jaundice, without knowing the appropriate methods and treatments for such a condition.
"There is no need for all this panic; the situation is not beyond normal. This is a seasonal illness that recurs every year, not a new emergency epidemic about which medicine knows nothing, as was the case with the COVID pandemic, for example. I haven't seen anything unusual, and all this uproar is unjustified," Dr. Kifah Al-Kassar stated in an interview with "Nidaa Al-Watan". He added, "From about the end of Ramadan until now, we see such cases, and I don’t believe there is an unknown epidemic among them. This is hepatitis A, which is the least severe type, and its treatments and medications are well-known. Visiting a doctor is essential to determine the appropriate treatment plan for several days, not exceeding a week."
Dr. Al-Kassar emphasized the importance of preventive measures and that families should ensure clean water sources and maintain sanitation. Regarding vegetables, it is advisable to wash them with salt. He reassured that this disease does not necessitate hospitalization unless it coincides with other immune-related conditions in the affected patient, which could lead to complications requiring hospital care.
Although the Ministry of Health has not specified the causes behind the infections and the spread of "jaundice" in Tripoli, most information on the matter converges on ensuring the safety of drinking and household water, alongside the mixing of groundwater with wastewater, which are primary causes for the emergence of this disease.
