Poisoning due to yam flour consumption in five families in Ilorin, Central Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Food poisoning is known to occur sporadically from time to time due to poor hygienic preparation. Its occurrence rarely assumes epidemic proportion.

OBJECTIVE

To report the ccurrence of food poisoning due to yam flour consumption among five families and to create public awareness about the condition.

METHODS

Food poisoning due to yam flour consumption which occurred almost in quick succession between February and July 2005 among five family clusters in Ilorin is reported. They presented variedly with diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsion and loss of consciousness. They all recovered within 48 hours of admission. Even though we could not carry out toxicological tests, yam flour consumption was highly implicated as the cause. Investigations indicated that the use of certain lethal preservatives for the processing of the yam flour might be responsible.

CONCLUSIONS

Poisoning from consumption of yam flour should be a differential diagnosis of acute seizure disorder or the occurrence of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in the tropics. We recommend education on proper processing of all food products in view of the public health implication of doing otherwise.