Title: An association between herbal medicine ingestion and renal failure in Zambian infants.

POPLINE Document Number: 266704

Author(s):

Maguire MJ
Chawla V

Source citation:

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 1983 Aug;29(4):213-4.

Abstract:

A syndrome of renal failure and cerebral irritability in infants following the ingestion of a herbal medicine used (apparently effectively) in the treatment of diarrhea is described. The coincidence of the use of medicine made from roots and renal failure is highly suggestive of a direct cause and effect. Optimal management would appear to be rehydration with fluids appropriate to the blood chemistry, care being taken not to overload the circulation; cautious maintenance therapy; and dialysis in the event of serious biochemical disturbance. Phenobarbitone would appear to be indicated to prevent convulsions, the dose being adjusted to take account of the degree of renal failure. It is not possible from the cases studied to give a true estimate of prognosis from this rather biased series of 10 children. With frank renal failure it would appear to be poor. About 50% of such children die. However, a much higher proportion of children with gastroenteritis receive herbal medicines and do not show evidence of renal failure--so the children presented in this series may only represent those who have received an overdose. However, no children with this clinical picture have been seen who have not received herbal medicines orally.

Keywords:

Infant
Medicine, Traditional
Renal Effects
Zambia
Central Nervous System Effects
Plants, Medicinal
Diseases
Treatment
Research Report
Diarrhea
Nervousness
Folklore
Gastrointestinal Effects
Child Mortality
Organic Chemicals
Oral Rehydration
Case Studies
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Medicine
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Urogenital Effects
Urogenital System
Physiology
Biology
Africa, Southern
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Developing Countries
Central Nervous System
Signs and Symptoms
Culture
Mortality
Population Dynamics
Ingredients and Chemicals
Studies
Research Methodology