Fluid in ailing Soeharto`s lungs increases

Although the health condition of ailing former President Soeharto was
improving slightly on Monday, doctor said the amount of fluid in his
lungs increased more than that of the previous days.

"Compared to that of the previous days, the accumulation of fluid in
the former president`s lungs increased on Monday," dr Hardiarto
Mangunnegoro, one of Soeharto`s doctors, told the newsmen at Pertamina
hospital on Monday.

He said that besides the accumulation of the liquid, Soeharto`s lungs
also prone to have infection which could be caused by germs and fungi.

"For the time being we are trying to identify the kind of germs," he
said, adding that the doctors have given medicines to Soeharto to
prevent the possible infection.

Earlier on Thursday, presidential medical team tried to excrete the
fluid from Soeharto to as much as 180 cc per-hour after the latter was
given blood transfusion.

Soeharto was admitted to Pertamina hospital in South Jakarta on Friday, January 4, with serious heart, kidney and lung problems.

He has been in and out of hospital for various ailments in recent years, including at least two strokes and stomach problems.(*) END

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