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Putting pawpaw water, breast milk in baby’s eyes won’t cure jaundice – Pediatrician

Published

2 months ago

May 17, 2024

Putting pawpaw water, breast milk in baby’s eyes won’t cure jaundice – Pediatrician

A consultant pediatrician has debunked the belief that putting breast milk in the eyes of babies with jaundice would cure it.

Dr Funmi Adesokan, Consultant Pediatrician, Osun State University Teaching Hospital, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Osogbo, to sensitise people.

Adesokan explained that jaundice was caused by the uncontrolled breaking down of red blood cells, which causes bilirubin (a yellow pigment or colour) produced in the liver.

This “Jaundice is a yellowish discolouration of the eyes, skin and mucus membranes. When red cells are broken down, bilirubin is produced, which undergoes further metabolism in the liver and is excreted in stool.

“Understanding this process, we can see that putting breast milk in the eyes cannot alter this and it is not effective in clearing jaundice.

“Pawpaw water and other herbal concoctions have also not been proven to treat jaundice.”

Furthermore, the pediatrician described the type of light the babies were put under.

“It is true that babies with jaundice are put under a light called phototherapy to treat jaundice.

“Putting a baby in sunlight cannot achieve the same result, as a specific wavelength of light is required for effectiveness and you need the skin of the baby exposed to light.

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“It will be harmful to keep a baby outside, unclothed, to receive sunlight. “It is also required to be a continuous exposure, so a few minutes of exposure would not achieve that.”

She further said the causes of jaundice could be due to blood group incompatibility, enzyme shortage, infections, liver abnormalities, and not enough breastfeeding.

Other causes include; exposure to substances like camphor, menthol-containing products, sulphur, talc, and naphthalene, among other unhealthy items for babies. Moreover, she said that six out of 10 babies would have a type of jaundice.

“What is called physiologic jaundice. This jaundice is mild and does not require treatment, but there is another type (pathologic jaundice) which is harmful and damages the brain.

“This type leads to delayed development, cerebral palsy, deafness, seizures and other problems.”

She, however, said the baby needed to be taken to the hospital to determine the type, cause, and severity of the jaundice for the required treatment.

Adesokan added that mothers whose babies had jaundice be brought to the hospital, and also suggested that mothers breastfeed babies on demand at two to three hours intervals. She also advised that mothers go for antenatal care and take advantage of health insurance schemes.

“Antenatal care (ANC) is important for pregnant women, to ensure safe pregnancy and delivery of healthy babies.

“Yes, it may be expensive and inaccessible for some, but most government primary health care centres run ANC at little cost.

“Mothers need to understand the importance of the ANC and attend them.”

Putting pawpaw water, breast milk in baby’s eyes won’t cure jaundice – Pediatrician

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Lagos police engage kidnappers in shoot-out, kill nine suspects

Published

21 mins ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade

Lagos police engage kidnappers in shoot-out, kill nine suspects

The Lagos state police command has successfully thwarted a planned kidnapping of high net-worth individuals in the Ladipo area.

Acting on credible intelligence, the police laid an ambush for the kidnappers, which resorted to a deadly shoot-out on Thursday, July 4.

The operation, directed by Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, began two weeks ago when intelligence reports indicated the imminent threat.

The police tactical teams monitored the gang closely and prepared to intercept them on the anticipated day of the attack.

During the confrontation, nine kidnappers were neutralised, while two others escaped with gunshot wounds.

The police recovered a cache of weapons, including four AK-47 rifles, four locally-made semiautomatic pistols, nine AK-47 magazines, three walkie-talkies, a POS machine, and a loudspeaker, and the gang’s operational vehicles (a black Toyota 4Runner and a blue Lexus RX350) were seized.

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The state public relations officer, Benjamin Hundayin stated that police have been tracking this gang for eight months, attributing numerous kidnappings in the Isolo, Okota, Ejigbo, and Ladipo areas to their activities.

The command proudly announced that this operation had effectively ended the gang’s reign of terror

He further stated that these highlighted that this success is among several recent achievements in combating kidnapping and armed robbery in Lagos.

Many of these operations have not been publicised to protect informants’ identities.

He said: “We are urging the public, particularly medical practitioners, to report any individuals with gunshot wounds to the nearest police station or emergency numbers, and the residents should also provide information on suspicious activities, promising to prioritise public safety and security”.

“The command’s efforts reflect a commitment to maintaining law and order in Lagos, ensuring a safer environment for all residents.”

Lagos police engage kidnappers in shoot-out, kill nine suspects

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Police rescue five-year old chained for three days

Published

28 mins ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Police rescue five-year old chained for three days

Operatives of the Bauchi Police Command have rescued a five-year-old boy found chained by his father and starved for three days .

The Police got wind of the alleged maltreatment following a tip-off from concerned neighbours in the Gwallagan Mayaka area in the Bauchi metropolis.

Spokesman of the Command, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil in a statement on Friday explained: “On July 3, 2024 when the ward head of Gwallagan Mayaka area of Bauchi reported that he received information from a good Samaritan, a resident in the community, who revealed that his wife Amina (not real name) had informed him that she saw a 5-year old boy of their neighbours tied with a chain inside a room situated at the same address.

“Amina promptly checked on the boy to confirm his condition and found him lying unconscious, tied with a chain.

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“on receipt of the information, a team of detectives led by CSP. Mubarak S. Baba DPO D’ Division ,Dutsen Tanshi moved to the scene and rescued the boy.”

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Police stop Lagos pregnant teenager from committing suicide

Published

40 mins ago

July 5, 2024

Trends Admin

Police stop Lagos pregnant teenager from committing suicide

A 19-year-old woman who was abandoned by her lover after becoming pregnant and subsequently defrauded by scammers has been rescued from a suicide attempt, police have said.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who disclosed this on Thursday, said the lady was rescued by officers from Ikorodu Area Command.

Hundeyin explained that a concerned citizen informed police authorities on June 29, 2024 at about 2 pm that the teenager was attempting to commit suicide by ingesting a harmful chemical.

The Command’s spokesman said officers were dispatched to the scene where the teenager was located and prevented her from committing suicide.

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Hundeyin said, “Upon rescue, the lady, whose identity remains confidential, confessed that she had been driven to the brink of suicide due to severe emotional distress. She revealed that she was impregnated by a man who subsequently refused to take responsibility for the pregnancy.

“Additionally, she had fallen victim to a fraudster who scammed her of her earnings from her Point of Sale (POS) business, further compounding her emotional and financial struggles.”

The police command’s spokesperson emphasised that the young woman is currently receiving essential psychological care and support.

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the individuals who pushed the lady to attempt suicide, by the actions.

The command also took the opportunity to stress the significance of mental health awareness, urging anyone facing similar struggles to seek help promptly and without hesitation.