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

After many days of drinking water from the leaves of the Indian laurel tree 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 boiled water from the leaves of the Indian laurel tree 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 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 and had to be hospitalized for treatment. As of August 8, the child's health was recovering well, with pink skin and mucous membranes and no longer jaundice.

Specialist Doctor 1 Truong Cong Thanh, Head of the Emergency Department of Ninh Binh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said that drinking boiled Indian laurel leaves 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.

Loc Mai leaves or some places call it Moi leaves. The tree is 2 - 3 m tall on average, grows wild in many places. In folklore, people often pass on the use of this type of leaf to 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