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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating two cases of children with renal stones suspected of being related to the consumption of melamine tainted milk products.
These cases were reported by the Hospital Authority and are the 12th and 13th cases of its kind reported to the CHP.
A CHP spokesman said today (December 16) that the two cases involved two boys aged 2 and 3. Both were asymptomatic.
The 2-year-old boy, living in Tse Wan Shan, had a history of exposure to melamine tainted milk products bought from the Mainland for 15 months. His parents took him to Kwong Wah Hospital for assessment and a renal stone was found in his right kidney. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) on November 7 and was discharged three days later in stable condition.
The 3-year-old boy is a Mainland resident. He had consumed melamine tainted milk products for 18 months. His parents took him to United Christian Hospital for assessment and a renal stone was found in his left kidney. He was admitted to PMH on October 31 and was discharged on November 8 in stable condition.
In the 24 hours to 1pm today, the CHP hotline 2125 1133 had received nine enquiries from members of the public, and this brings to 10,619 the number of calls received by the hotline since it was set up on September 21.
"A total of 3,888 callers claimed that they or their children had consumed milk products which were confirmed to have been adulterated with melamine, and 1,172 of the affected people, 627 males and 545 females aged from one to 82, claimed to have symptoms of renal problems including dysuria and changes in the frequency of urination.
"They have been advised to seek medical attention as soon as possible to ascertain if they are suffering from renal disease," the spokesman said.
The remaining 6,731 callers had no history of exposure to melamine adulterated milk products and just asked for general health advice.
The CHP hotline 2125 1133 operates from 9am to 5.45pm from Monday to Friday. The hotline caters for individuals who have consumed milk products contaminated with melamine or those who are experiencing renal symptoms.
Ends/Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:01
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