Based on results of the laboratory examination of the Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), so far, no specific bacteria or viruses have been found.
Bali (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health has formed a team to investigate mysterious acute kidney disorder cases among children in Indonesia in a bid to handle the cases.



"The Ministry of Health has formed a team consisting of (representatives from) the Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) and Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) to investigate and handle mysterious acute kidney disorder cases," Head of the ministry's Communication and Public Service Bureau Siti Nadia Tarmizi informed here on Thursday.



As per the ministry’s records, three new cases of the disorder have been reported as of October 3, 2022. Thus, overall, 40 children aged under 8 are currently undergoing treatment for the disorder.



The Directorate General of Health Service at the ministry has issued the Decree of Director General of Health Service Number HK.02.92/I/3305/2022 concerning the clinical management of atypical progressive acute kidney disorder.



"Based on results of the laboratory examination of the Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK), so far, no specific bacteria or viruses have been found," Tarmizi informed.


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Further research is needed on the results of discussions with teams from other countries that have recorded similar cases, such as the Gambia and Africa—specifically, the presumption that the consumption of drugs containing ethylene glycol causes the disease.



"This needs further research because it is not detected in the blood," she explained.



At present, the ministry is still coordinating with experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) to obtain information on the results of their case investigation in the Gambia.


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Meanwhile, state-run Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) has said that the treatment costs of patients suffering from acute diseases with unknown causes are being covered by the Indonesian government.



"As long as it is medically indicated, BPJS Kesehatan covers the treatment cost of patients with diseases that are still considered to be mysterious," the president director of BPJS Kesehatan, Ghufron Mukti, informed in Jakarta on Thursday.



BPJS Kesehatan program members, who are suffering from unidentified diseases, must opt for treatment procedures that are in accordance with BPJS Kesehatan's mechanism, he added.


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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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