"There are two cases undergoing an examination regarding the disease. We want to make sure if it is kidney failure or other diseases. The temporary indication shows an infection, it could be measles," he informed after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Health and PT AstraZeneca Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday.
Sadikin confirmed that the two new suspected cases of acute kidney failure have been detected in West Java. One of the patients has been referred to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in Jakarta for further treatment.
However, it is not yet certain whether the suspected patient was poisoned due to the presence of ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) compounds in a syrup drug or not. RSCM is still conducting further examinations on this matter, the minister informed.
So far, the patient suspected of acute kidney failure has not been administered fomepizole, a type of antidote used to treat poisoning caused by EG and DEG compounds in syrup drugs, he said.
The two suspected patients have been given anti-infection drugs and their conditions have been observed to be slowly improving, he informed.
"Kidney failure cases will not react to anti-infection drugs. However, the conditions of the two patients get started to show improvement after consuming the anti-infection drugs," he pointed out.
The minister said that his ministry and other related elements are still waiting for the results of the RSCM laboratory examination.
The examination comprised blood tests, plasma examination, and tests for the presence of EG and DEG in drugs consumed earlier by the two suspected patients.
"We are still waiting for the laboratory data because we had to check the blood data, plasma data, and drug data regarding EG and DEG contamination. It should come out this Monday," he disclosed.
On February 16, 2023, the West Java Health Service received a report regarding two patients aged three years and one month showing symptoms of suspected acute kidney failure, with the first symptom observed on February 6.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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