Researchers have discovered that 10 children who fell ill in the Philippines after eating a kind of seed had watched a video on social media that seemed to show that they were safe to consume.
In September 2023, health officials in Calabarzon received a report of diseases transferred by Tuba-Tuba Zaden in the village of Talao, Lucena City.
Ten patients were identified, ranging from 10 to 12 years old. The start of the symptoms varied from one to four hours after consumption. Six people were taken to the hospital, although two went home against medical advice before they were admitted, but all patients recovered after three days. The most common symptom was vomiting with others who reported abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness and headaches.
Tuba tuba is an inedible shrub that grows in tropical and subtropical areas. The seeds contain toxic compounds such as curcin and curcanolic acid, which can cause headache, dizziness and severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
First such an outbreak
According to a study published in the Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal, after the report of an outbreak, disease kidding officials and municipal staff were sent to Talao Talao to conduct an initial investigation.
Staff of a medical center, local hospital and provincial epidemiology and surveillance unit in Quezon were interviewed to collect historical data on similar events. During the study, data was also collected by interviewing patients and their legal guardians, and data was assessed from hospitals where patients were treated.
According to a timeline of events, a group of children from 10 to 12 years old went to Talao Talao to swim in a private resort. After a few hours and feeling hungry, seven children searched for trees with fruit. They found a tuba tuba tree and, after a video they had seen, harvested and used fresh Tuba-Tuba seeds, with some who started to show symptoms after an hour. They later shared the seeds with three more friends.
Taking only one seed was sufficient to cause symptoms. Four children had at least 10 seeds, of whom one hypovolemic shock developed.
Interviews with local officials revealed that diseases of Tuba-Tuba seeds were first included in the province of Quezon during this outbreak, even though the trees were common in the area. Shortly after this incident, other cases were reported in the village of Wakas, the province of Quezon. In this case, three cousins ate 4 years old ate the skin of the fruit, which resulted in vomiting and diarrhea. One child needed medical help.
A wake-up call
There were no warning signals with regard to the dangers of consuming tuba tub seeds or fruit present in the area. Trees were two meters long, making the fruits easily accessible.
Children consumed Tuba-Tuba seeds after seeing a video on social media that led them to believe that it was safe to do this.
“This finding must be a wake-up call for policymakers to ensure that there are appropriate measures to filter dangerous content on social media platforms, in particular content that is aimed at children for a period in their lives when they are exploratory and impulsive,” scientists said.
“Other strategies that are important for considering are strengthening digital literacy programs in schools and promoting the consciousness of Tuba-Tuba through health clinics, and school-based and community training programs.”
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