By Adama Makasuba
The Ministry of Health has said there is a rise in acute kidney injury in children aged 5 months to 4 years as health officials ramped up work to look for solutions to the disease.
The Ministry’s report comes days after Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital reported a rare killer disease in children.
EFSTH informed the public that there is a rare condition currently under observation in the Paediatric Outpatient. Samples were collected from the affected children and awaiting results from the lab.
“They present with diarrhoea, vomiting, and reduced urination output. It is severe and already causes mortality in children. Our doctors are working very hard to establish the cause of the condition. Meanwhile, the public is urged to be vigilant and report to the nearest health facility if their child has the above symptoms mentioned earlier. You are advised not to rely on drugs purchased from a pharmacy without visiting a health facility,” EFSTH management said in a short warning statement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology and Disease Control said the disease has killed 28 children, adding it affects more children in Western 1, Western 2, Lower River Region, and Central River Region.
The Epidemiology and Disease Control (EDC) unit received a report through the Director of Health Services from a concerned nephrologist of a sudden raise in cases of Acute Kidney Injury among children aged 5 months – 4yrs.
“Over 35 cases were reported, while only 32 met the event-based case definition with 28 deaths (CFR=87.5%). The cases were reported from Western 1, Western 2, Lower River Region and Central River Region. Below is our 1st National Situational Report on Acute Kidney Injuries,” it said.
