Tragically, a woman in Son La consumed a drink made from palm leaves and died immediately along with her son. The 8-year-old girl survived but was left in critical condition. Doctors from the Department of Emergency Medicine at Muong La District General Hospital shared that the girl arrived at the hospital in a severe state due to palm leaf poisoning, experiencing cardiac and respiratory arrest, pale skin, and falling into a deep coma within four hours.
Medical professionals worked tirelessly to save the young girl’s life, performing chest compressions, airway management, intubation, ventilation, and gastric lavage. After a day of treatment, her condition stabilized, with improved breathing, blood pressure, normal limb movement, and successful removal of the endotracheal tube. The patient remained under close observation as her recovery progressed.
The tragic incident raises questions about why the mother chose to mix palm leaf water for her loved ones to drink. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the underlying cause of this event. Palm leaves contain a lethal alkaloid that can cause instant death upon ingestion. Poisoning symptoms include thirst, sore throat, dizziness, nausea, weak pulse, breathing difficulties
