Eating herbs to treat illness, the couple became completely paralyzed

Dr. BS Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Center for Poison Control, is evaluating and advocating for the husband and wife of a patient with cassava seed poisoning. Photo: BVCC

PTX patient, born in 1966 with her husband TCN, born in 1958, living in Kien Giang, was transferred to Bach Mai Hospital in a state of muscle atrophy, limited mobility in both arms, difficulty speaking, and paralysis of both legs.

Through taking the history, patient X. shared: Between September and November 2021, the patient and her husband had an acquaintance who gave them mung bean seeds to grow and eat. According to word of mouth, patients were told that cauliflower seeds could cure diabetes. The blood sugar ratio of the patient and his wife is slightly higher than the normal number but not to the threshold of diabetes. However, the patient’s wife still eats seeds with the desire to prevent disease.

Patient X said: Initially every day, only about 2 seeds, then eat more and eat every day. After eating for about 3 months, the patient found that he was tired, weak, his limbs were weak and his weight lost 15kg, so he went to the hospital in Kien Giang (the patient’s husband then had the same problem and also lost weight). 10 kg of weight).

Doctors diagnosed patient X with calcium deficiency should prescribe calcium supplements. Finished the prescription but the symptoms did not improve, even worse, the patient went to a large hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh for treatment.

Here, the doctor diagnosed the patient’s wife with polyneuritis, acupuncture and acupressure. At the end of the course of treatment, the disease did not improve, but got worse, not only weak in limbs but also paralyzed in both legs and had to move in a wheelchair.

Doctors at the hospital sent a blood sample of the patient to Singapore for testing, and the results showed suspected heavy metal poisoning. After that, the patient was referred to the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital for treatment.

2 patients were transferred to the Poison Control Center on April 12, in a state of muscle atrophy, limited movement of both arms, difficulty speaking and paralysis of both legs. After more than 1 month of intensive treatment with 8 times of dialysis and plasma exchange, the patient’s health has gradually improved.

TS.BS Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, said: When both patients were admitted to the hospital, they suffered from paralysis of the roots and nerves of the whole body, severe muscle atrophy, and the wife began to paralyze the pharynx, potentially affecting function. Survival. The center has carried out many examinations, tests, consultations with many specialties. Investigations and examinations have ruled out other causes of illness, including heavy metal poisoning. 2 patients also had muscle biopsies that showed signs of muscle fibrosis, atrophy and degeneration.

TS.BS Nguyen Trung Nguyen added: The plant samples brought by the two patients were sent to be identified by experts, showing that this is a plant, or a star fruit tree, the scientific name is Senna occidentalis (also known as Senna occidentalis). called Cassia occidentalis). The patient was poisoned for a long time, causing muscle atrophy leading to paralysis of all limbs. The Poison Control Center has made every effort to treat with the most optimal solutions. The patient’s health has been partially improved, but in the long run, the risk of sequelae is still present.

Poisoning of sage in 2 patients above is the first case of Vietnam detected. Outside of Vietnam, the world literature has only published a few cases of poisoning in Indian children (most of which have died). Poisoning of this plant occurs a lot in cattle and poultry in many countries. The toxin in this plant is anthraquinone, a toxin found in the whole plant but concentrated in the seeds, which has been recorded to cause muscle and nerve toxicity, especially muscle necrosis, muscle degeneration, liver damage, brain and death in humans and animals.

Through this, Dr. BS Nguyen Trung Nguyen recommends: Patients should not listen to word of mouth to treat diseases, but should visit a doctor or licensed physician for examination and treatment.

According to PV