Acute Kidney Injury Cases in Indonesia Reach 206, Here's the Trend Since the Beginning of the Year

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) reported that the cumulative total of atypical progressive acute kidney injury (AKI) cases in children in Indonesia reached 206 from the beginning of the year until October 18, 2022. Of these hundreds of cases, 48% have died.

The trend shows only 2 cases were reported in January 2022. The number increased by 2 more cases in March 2022, followed by 5 cases in May 2022, 3 cases in June 2022, and 5 cases in July 2022.

Then, there were 36 additional cases in August 2022 and 78 cases in September 2022. Furthermore, 75 cases of atypical progressive acute kidney injury were reported until mid-October.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Mohammad Syahril, stated that the total of hundreds of cases were obtained from reports from 20 provinces in Indonesia.

"A total of 206 cases from 20 reporting provinces, with a death toll of 99 cases. The mortality rate of patients receiving treatment, especially at RSCM as the national referral hospital for kidneys, reaches 65%," said Syahril, as quoted by CNN Indonesia on Wednesday (19/10).

However, Syahril stated that the cause of atypical progressive acute kidney injury remains unidentified. He assured that this mysterious illness is not related to the administration of the coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine.

Syahril continued, Kemenkes urged parents to be more vigilant against this disease by continuously monitoring the amount and color of their children's urine; dark or brownish urine is a warning sign. If urine output is less than 0.5ml/kgBW/hour for 6-12 hours or there is no urine for 6-8 hours, the patient must be immediately referred to a hospital.

Furthermore, Kemenkes has instructed pharmacies and health workers in Indonesia to temporarily refrain from selling or prescribing liquid or syrup-based over-the-counter medications. This is because compounds in certain medications, such as ethylene glycol, are suspected of causing this mysterious illness.

"For the time being, Kemenkes has taken steps to save more cases or prevent further deaths. We are temporarily halting the use (of these medications) until our research or investigation is complete," said Syahril.