Septic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case series

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dc.contributor.authorAlobo, Gasthony
dc.contributor.authorReverzani, Cristina
dc.contributor.authorNahurira, Violah
dc.contributor.authorSarno, Laura
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-30T07:59:05Z
dc.date.available2024-05-30T07:59:05Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractUnsafe 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.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAlobo, G., Reverzani, C., Nahurira, V., & Sarno, L. (2022). 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, 10(6), e5975.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.lirauni.ac.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/831
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherClinical Case Reportsen_US
dc.subjectcase seriesen_US
dc.subjectherbal medicinesen_US
dc.subjectherbsen_US
dc.subjectnorthern Ugandaen_US
dc.subjectunsafe abortionen_US
dc.titleSeptic shock, acute renal and liver failure following unsafe abortion using bitter leaves and wandering jew in northern Uganda: A case seriesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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