13 children hospitalized after eating tuba-tuba fruit in Koronadal

KORONADAL CITY — Thirteen children here were hospitalized after experiencing vomiting, dizziness, and stomach pain several hours after eating the fruit of a tuba-tuba plant (Jatropha curcas) in Barangay Topland, Koronadal City, on Monday night.The children, all from Sitio Kolondafok, were taken to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital for medical treatment.Barangay Topland chairperson Terrence Jay Ehimplar said the children allegedly decided to eat the fruit, locally known as “kasla,” after watching a YouTube channel featuring people eating it.

READ: 17 students recover after eating poisonous Jatropha seeds in Cadiz CityPamela Aguilar Laseb, a relative of one of the children, said the children began experiencing symptoms several hours after consuming the fruit.Laseb said the children were rushed to the hospital and received medical attention.The children have undergone laboratory tests, but the results are still pending, per the latest information from Laseb.Some of the children had already recovered, while the younger ones remained under observation, she said.Authorities reminded parents to keep a close watch on their children and prevent them from eating unfamiliar fruits or seeds.The public was also reminded not to assume a plant or fruit is safe to eat simply because it is featured in an online video, and not to imitate what they see on social media without knowing the potential risks./coa