Healthcare Workers 'Stressed, Frustrated' as Child Acute Kidney Injury Emerged

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chairperson of the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) Piprim Basarah Yanuarso in Tuesday’s hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) said the spike in acute kidney injury cases has frustrated and bewildered pediatricians. 

He added that there were oddities in treating children showing kidney injury symptoms as dialysis does not cure the children who suffer from it but would instead perish from acute kidney injuries. 

The IDAI Chair also emphasized that normal acute kidney injuries would see sufferers have a fever, but this time, severe dehydration was not observed. 

“At the time, we pediatricians were frustrated in facing this case. It was strange and unusual. Issuing dialysis on children would usually save them, but this time, dialysis causes the child to die,” said Piprim in the hearing with Commission IX House members on November 2. 

Sudden Loss of Consciousness 

According to the IDAI chair, rapid loss of consciousness would affect child patients who suffer from acute kidney injury, despite having undergone dialysis. He also revealed that patients would stop breathing, which asserts respiratory assistance.

“They would be awake but then rapidly suffer from loss of consciousness even though they had undergone dialysis, their breathing stops. Breathing equipment would be administered but in the end, they would die,” said the IDAI chairperson.

The high death toll caused by this illness, he emphasized, induced stress among healthcare officials.

“At the time we were bewildered. What medicine should be used?,” said Piprim.

Similarities with Cases in Gambia

Piprim explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) report on a similar case in Gambia provided enlightenment on how medical workers handled the widespread acute kidney injuries. The number of cases of kidney failure decreased after syrup medicines were withdrawn from the market. 

“In discussions with doctors in Gambia, it seems that the patient profile is very similar to our patients, especially in Jakarta. After the withdrawal of the drugs, the number of cases decreased and we switched from pathological testing to toxicology," he said.

“For us, pediatricians, the life of one child is very precious. If hundreds die, it is said to be a crime against humanity, we demand that this be prosecuted fairly," said the IDAI chairman.

IMA DINI SHAFIRA

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