5-year-old patient has ascites

SEMARANG: Five-year-old Nurul Hidayah, whose parents are poor farmers, has spent the past month in the Dr. Kariadi Hospital.

Nurul is suffering from ascites, an accumulation of serous fluid between tissues and organs in the abdomen. The daughter of Daryo and Khoriyah, Nurul weighed 15 kilogram at admittance. She now weighs 16.5 due to the increase in fluid.

Dr. Rochmanadji Hidayat said the condition has not affected Nurul's kidneys or liver. "Ascites is not a light affliction, but the hospital will do its best to help her," he said.

Antara reported that Nurul's parents are worried about how they are going to pay the hospital bills. (swe)