Mon, 29 Mar 1999

Baby born without an anus dies

JAKARTA (JP): A three-month-old baby boy who was born without an anus died on Sunday after suffering difficulties in breathing.

His parents recalled that the face and abdomen of Muhammad Fauzan, the couple's first baby, had turned blue, especially around the lips.

Fauzan was rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital at about 9:30 a.m. and announced dead by the medical staff four hours later.

Two months ago, a team of doctors from the same hospital made an artificial anus in Fauzan's stomach to help the baby relieve himself.

A doctor said the baby's death may have been caused by a heart attack or a lung disease.

"It may be due to his disability to discharge his feces the normal way," she said.

At this date, the precise cause of his death remains unknown.

Fauzan's grandmother, Sumarni Untung, said the baby had had a cough for the past two months.

"His cough had worsened since last week," she said.

Fauzan was scheduled to be buried at a cemetery near his parents' house in Cijantung, South Jakarta. (01)