Case Reports
Kohomba oil induced encephalopathy: lessons in prescribing traditional medicines
Authors:
S Sri Ranganathan ,
Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, F/M University of Colombo, LK
R Fernandopulle,
Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, F/M University of Colombo, LK
BVDSP Abeywardena,
Consultant Paediatrician, General Hospital, Ratnapura, LK
HMKN Hathlahawatta,
Registrar, General Hospital, Ratnapura, LK
KR Gunatilaka
Demonstrator, Department of Pharmacology, F/M University of Colombo, LK
Abstract
Kohomba oil is a fatty acid rich extract of the Neem (Azadirachta indica or Margosa) seeds. It is used as a traditional medicine in many countries including India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka as an external application. Rarely, it is administered orally to infants in small amounts. Several cases of Kohomba oil encephalopathy have been reported from Malaysia and Singapore. Here we report a case of encephalopathy in a child following Kohomba oil ingestion.
Key words: Kohomba oil, encephalopathy
doi: 10.4038/sljch.v34i3.402
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2004; 34:94-5
How to Cite:
Ranganathan, S.S., Fernandopulle, R., Abeywardena, B., Hathlahawatta, H. and Gunatilaka, K., 2009. Kohomba oil induced encephalopathy: lessons in prescribing traditional medicines. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 34(3), pp.94–95. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v34i3.402
Published on
09 Mar 2009.
Peer Reviewed
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