An unusual surge in hepatitis A cases is being reported at Cotugno Hospital in Naples, Italy. “We are in a very acute phase,” stated Novella Carannante, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital, “we now have 43 hospitalized patients, a figure that is very unusual for the month of March.” This increase in cases highlights the importance of preventative measures and awareness regarding hepatitis A.
Case Increase
Dr. Carannante explained that there has been a significant increase in patients requiring hospitalization. “Usually during this period, there are about ten mildly infected individuals, to whom we can make a diagnosis and prescribe at-home treatment. Today, however, we have a long series of seriously ill patients, and the ward is completely full, with many patients on stretchers in the emergency room.” The overcrowding is a concern, and healthcare professionals hope the trend will decrease. Among the patients is a 46-year-old man who is also experiencing severe liver failure and has been transferred to the Cardarelli Hospital to be evaluated for a possible transplant.
Hepatitis A is commonly seen in Campania during January, “particularly because many people eat raw seafood during the holidays, which can transmit the disease. But we typically see low numbers in March. now, however, we have raised the level of attention,” Dr. Carannante noted. Currently, the majority of hospitalized patients are between the ages of 35 and 45 and require hospitalization.
What is Hepatitis A?
“It is a preventable disease, but no one in Italy gets vaccinated because it is not mandatory, except for certain categories such as cooks or us doctors,” Dr. Carannante emphasized. “Vaccination is available in both childhood and adulthood, but it is a choice. It is mandatory in regions like South America.”
