Clinical side effects after oral administration of palm oil and Alchornea cordifolia decoction in a child

Paulo Muntu Bunga; JephtÃ© Bambi Nzita; Gerry Mubungu; Sophie Nyembo Mangaza; Nono Joelle Seudjip; Michel Ntetani Aloni

doi:10.4081/pmc.2018.152

Case Reports Open access

Clinical side effects after oral administration of palm oil and Alchornea cordifolia decoction in a child

Authors

Paulo Muntu Bunga – articles in this journal Corresponding author Email Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the.
JephtÃ© Bambi Nzita – articles in this journal Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the.
Gerry Mubungu – articles in this journal Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the.
Sophie Nyembo Mangaza – articles in this journal Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the.
Nono Joelle Seudjip – articles in this journal Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the.
Michel Ntetani Aloni – articles in this journal Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, Kinshasa, Congo, The Democratic Republic of the.

Published: 26 September 2018
Issue: Vol. 40 No. 2 (2018)
Section: Case Reports
DOI: 10.4081/pmc.2018.152

Abstract

Alchornea cordifolia is known to be a plant with a variety of medicinal properties and is quoted by many traditional healers to treat a variety of medicinal problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, very little is known about its potential toxicity. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy referred for assessment of suspected bronchial troubles without a history of atopic disease or drug allergy who developed dyspnea, dysphagia, asthenia and lingual ulcers within 30 minutes after nasal and oral administration of decoction of palm oil associated with A. cordifolia leaves in water. In the present report, adverse effects of A. cordifolia therapy may be related to the mixtures of active compounds that they contain and can cause the symptoms observed in our patient. These findings call for caution in the use of A. cordifolia especially in children.

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Article history

Received: 3 April 2017
Accepted: 19 March 2018
Published: 26 September 2018

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How to Cite

Clinical side effects after oral administration of palm oil and Alchornea cordifolia decoction in a child. (2018). La Pediatria Medica E Chirurgica, 40(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/pmc.2018.152

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