Jakarta: More than 70 children have died of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Indonesia since January this year, a health ministry official said on Wednesday, as a team of experts investigates a spike in cases.
The development comes as health officials in The Gambia said about 70 children had died from AKI after consuming a locally sold paracetamol syrup used to treat fever.
High levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol were found in four cough syrup products made by New Delhi-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd, which were sold in The Gambia.
Indonesia’s Food and Drug Agency officials said the product was not available in the Southeast Asian nation, but has since banned the use of ingredients in all medicinal syrups for children.
Health ministry official City Nadia Tarmizi said the ministry had identified 189 cases of AKI in Indonesian children, most under the age of five, with 74 deaths recorded since January.
“For no reason (identified yet), we are still looking for it,” Citi told Reuters.
Health officials said last week that an expert team had been set up to investigate the spike in cases of AKI in children and would include representatives from the health ministry, the Indonesian Pediatric Association and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Health Ministry has said it is talking to WHO experts investigating cases in The Gambia.
In a letter to the health ministry on 18 October, which was seen by Reuters, the ministry requested that hospitals collect all medicines that families gave to their children so that toxicology tests could be carried out.
In the same letter, the ministry said that chemists should temporarily stop the sale of the syrup-based drug until further notice.
The health ministry is expected to provide more details later on Wednesday. -Reuters
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