Acute kidney failure that attacks children in Indonesia continues to grow. Based on a report from the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, as of Tuesday (11/1), there were 325 cases of patients with kidney failure, 179 of whom were reported to have died.
“This death is around 54 percent, it has decreased from the previous condition which reached 60 percent,” he said at a working meeting of Commission IX DPR RI, Wednesday (2/11/2022).
According to him, there are concentrations of cases in certain provinces, especially in North Sumatra, West Java, East Java, and South Sulawesi. In terms of distribution, DKI Jakarta is the highest.
Previously, a spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Dr. Mohammad Syahril, reported that most patients with acute kidney disorders were aged 1 to 5 years.
“Since then, the number of cases has not increased and the death rate has decreased,” Syahril claimed, Tuesday (1/11).
Meanwhile, this case of acute kidney failure has actually been around for a few months in Indonesia, to be precise in Depok.
Head of Depok Health Service (Kadinkes) Mary Liziawati said cases of acute kidney failure (ARF) in Depok City had existed for a long time.
“The case of acute kidney failure in Depok City has been around since March 2022,” said Mary in a webinar, Tuesday (1/11/2022).
However, this case of acute kidney failure was only revealed in October 2022. However, Mary did not explain why the case was only revealed in October.
The Depok City Health Office (Dinkes) together with community health centers and cross-sector follow-up on ARF cases in Depok City by conducting epidemiological studies and reporting them in stages.
“This is a fast case, but we have tried to anticipate it following the guidelines given by the Ministry of Health,” explained Mary.
Furthermore, acute kidney failure is suspected to occur due to medicinal products containing the dangerous chemical ethylene glycol. In effect, children who take syrup drugs with these substances will experience kidney failure.
Head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) Penny Lukito said his party was also investigating ethylene glycol contamination in other products. Other products include liquid traditional medicine to supplements.
The possibility of contamination does exist, it’s just that his party is still conducting searches to complete the data.
“We are completing the data first. Possibly in traditional medicine and liquid supplements. But the data is being completed first, while it is not fixed,” said Penny in an online press conference, Thursday (27/10).
Even Penny said this dangerous liquid may be also found in cosmetic products to food. Therefore, his party continues to carry out inspections and will immediately stop the spread of the product if it is proven to be dangerous.
