Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series
Abstract Unsafe abortion is a major problem in Uganda, being one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Abortions are performed mostly under unsafe conditions, by people without medical training. In rural areas in northern Uganda, women often resort to traditional providers, who...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Clinical Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.5975 |
| _version_ | 1818248281983025152 |
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| author | Gasthony Alobo Cristina Reverzani Violah Nahurira Laura Sarno |
| author_facet | Gasthony Alobo Cristina Reverzani Violah Nahurira Laura Sarno |
| author_sort | Gasthony Alobo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Unsafe abortion is a major problem in Uganda, being one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Abortions are performed mostly under unsafe conditions, by people without medical training. In rural areas in northern Uganda, women often resort to traditional providers, who use local herbs as abortion remedies, usually with adverse outcomes. Little is known about the biological properties of these herbs and their toxicity profile. Here, we present the case series of two women, of 31 and 24 years of age, who underwent unsafe abortion for unintended pregnancy by using herbal medicines, that is, Commelina Africana (wandering jew) and Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), respectively. While the first case resulted in uterine necrosis and pelvic peritonitis, which required multiple surgical interventions and the use of reserve antibiotics, the second case resulted in liver and renal failure that led to the death of the patient. This case series describes the unusual severe toxicity of two herbal medicines that are frequently used to induce abortion in northern Uganda. It highlights possible associations of Commelina Africana (wandering jew) with uterine necrosis complicated by sepsis, and of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) with acute liver and renal failure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T15:18:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7c00d3f38d742199c9023733d491697 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-0904 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T15:18:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7c00d3f38d742199c9023733d4916972022-12-22T00:20:27ZengWileyClinical Case Reports2050-09042022-06-01106n/an/a10.1002/ccr3.5975Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case seriesGasthony Alobo0Cristina Reverzani1Violah Nahurira2Laura Sarno3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Lira University Lira UgandaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St. Mary's Hospital Lacor Gulu UgandaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology St. Mary's Hospital Lacor Gulu UgandaDepartment of Neurosciences, Reproductive Science and Dentistry University of Naples Federico II Naples ItalyAbstract Unsafe abortion is a major problem in Uganda, being one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Abortions are performed mostly under unsafe conditions, by people without medical training. In rural areas in northern Uganda, women often resort to traditional providers, who use local herbs as abortion remedies, usually with adverse outcomes. Little is known about the biological properties of these herbs and their toxicity profile. Here, we present the case series of two women, of 31 and 24 years of age, who underwent unsafe abortion for unintended pregnancy by using herbal medicines, that is, Commelina Africana (wandering jew) and Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf), respectively. While the first case resulted in uterine necrosis and pelvic peritonitis, which required multiple surgical interventions and the use of reserve antibiotics, the second case resulted in liver and renal failure that led to the death of the patient. This case series describes the unusual severe toxicity of two herbal medicines that are frequently used to induce abortion in northern Uganda. It highlights possible associations of Commelina Africana (wandering jew) with uterine necrosis complicated by sepsis, and of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) with acute liver and renal failure.https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.5975case seriesherbal medicinesherbsnorthern Ugandaunsafe abortion |
| spellingShingle | Gasthony Alobo Cristina Reverzani Violah Nahurira Laura Sarno Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series Clinical Case Reports case series herbal medicines herbs northern Uganda unsafe abortion |
| title | Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series |
| title_full | Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series |
| title_fullStr | Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series |
| title_full_unstemmed | Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series |
| title_short | Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series |
| title_sort | septic shock acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern uganda a case series |
| topic | case series herbal medicines herbs northern Uganda unsafe abortion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.5975 |
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