In the Almaty region, an investigation is underway after a six-year-old boy was diagnosed with hepatitis C, reports infohub.kz.
The parents believe the infection may have occurred during a blood transfusion at the regional children's clinical hospital. The boy's father sent an appeal to the Presidential Administration asking for the case to be taken under control.
According to the father, shortly before hospitalization the family vacationed in Turkey, where the child fell ill with fever and severe cough. After returning to Kazakhstan, the boy developed bleeding and was rushed to the Almaty Regional Children's Clinical Hospital. Doctors diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia, a condition where the immune system destroys platelets. Due to his severe condition, the child required a blood transfusion.
The boy was later transferred to the Scientific Center of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, where a PCR test detected viral hepatitis C. The parents say their son had no such diagnosis before. The father believes the infection could have been introduced during the blood transfusion. After failing to get a response locally, he turned to the president.
Following the complaint, an inspection began at the Almaty Regional Children's Clinical Hospital. It is to determine how the child could have become infected and whether it is related to the medical care provided. Official conclusions are not yet available, and the cause of infection has not been determined.