Paediatrician warns against use of palm oil as poison antidote

A paediatrician, Dr Ayobola Adebowale, has warned parents against using palm oil as a poison antidote for children to reduce mortality amongst children.

Adebowale, a Senior Registrar, Department of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, said this through a telephone interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

She decried the increasing incidents of admission of children in the Intensive Care Units of the hospital after aspirating on palm oil in a bid to induce vomiting after ingesting poisonous substances.

The expert also advised parents against inducing vomiting by putting their hands in the child’s throat or force feeding the child with palm oil.

Adebowale attributed the increasing incidence to culture and beliefs, noting that some people erroneously held on to the practice with the argument that palm oil was used as an antidote in the olden days.