99 children die of kidney complications in Indonesia

99 children died of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Indonesia. These deaths occurred in just 10 months from January to October this year. The matter is being investigated because of the abnormal increase in death due to kidney complications.

On Wednesday (October 19), Indonesian Ministry of Health official Mohammad Sahril said that 206 cases of kidney complications or AKI have been detected until October 18. Of these, 99 deaths have been recorded.

Earlier, the official of the country's Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmiji, said that the Ministry of Health has identified 189 cases of kidney complications or AKI among children in Indonesia. And recorded 74 child deaths. Most of the children are under five years of age. However, no reason has been identified yet, he said.

Recently, a similar incident happened in the African country of Gambia. About 70 children died of kidney complications or AKI after using paracetamol or cough syrup to treat fever, health officials said. Cough syrup contains excess amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. The syrups are manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, an Indian drug company.

Officials of the Food and Drug Administration of Indonesia said that the drugs manufactured by the Indian company are not available in their country. But still the use of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as an ingredient in all syrups made for children is banned.

Last week, the country's health authorities said a team of experts had been formed to investigate a sharp increase in the incidence of kidney complications, or AKI, in children. The team also includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, Indonesian Pediatric Association as well as the World Health Organization (WHO).