Boy in critical condition after drinking Indian laurel leaf water to treat constipation

After many days of drinking Indian laurel leaf water to treat constipation, a 3-year-old boy in Ninh Binh province suffered from severe anemia, acute hemolysis, and G6PD deficiency, and had to be hospitalized for emergency treatment.

On August 8, information from Ninh Binh Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital said that the hospital had just received and was treating a 3-year-old boy (living in Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh) in critical condition because his family used the leaves of the Indian laurel tree to make a drink to treat the child's constipation.

Doctor of Ninh Binh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital examines a 3-year-old patient

PHOTO: NINH BINH OBSTETRICS AND PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL

When the patient was brought to the hospital by relatives, he had dark red urine, fatigue, vomiting, and jaundice. Doctors determined that the patient had severe anemia, acute hemolysis, and G6PD deficiency.

Taking the child's medical history, the child's family said that 5 days before being admitted to the hospital, the family had boiled the leaves of the Indian laurel tree to make water for the child to drink to treat constipation. However, after drinking it, the child showed unusual symptoms so he was hospitalized for treatment. As of August 8, the child's health was recovering well, the skin and mucous membranes were pink, and the jaundice had gone.

Specialist Doctor 1 Truong Cong Thanh, Head of the Emergency Department of Ninh Binh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said that drinking the decoction of the leaves of the Indian laurel tree will lead to G6PD deficiency, causing acute hemolysis and leading to acute anemia, damage to the liver, kidneys and other organs. If not treated promptly at a medical facility, it will be life-threatening.

Doctor Thanh recommends that people should not arbitrarily use the leaves of the plant or other types of leaves based on folk experience to treat diseases. In case of unusual symptoms from the treatment of diseases with leaves, they should immediately go to a medical facility for timely treatment.

The leaves of the plant are called “la moi” in some places. The plant is 2-3 m tall on average and grows wild in many places. Folklore has it that the leaves of this plant have a laxative effect, so many people have used it to treat constipation, and many cases have been poisoned.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/be-trai-nguy-kich-vi-uong-nuoc-la-loc-mai-chua-tao-bon-185250808161932952.htm