Litchi, a sweet and juicy fruit and one of the best fruits to eat during the Summers, has turned into a nightmare to many in Bihar. The incidences of poisoning have killed many children in Bihar. Seven children died in Malda district of West Bengal in June 2014. The consumption of unripe litchis in Bihar claimed the lives of 70 children in Muzaffar district. However, the mystery that was unsolved has found its root cause.
The reason was toxicity due to acute neurological illness and high mortality among the children. Several factors such as excess heat, humidity, pesticides and other factors were the root cause that claimed the death of several children. A journal published by a team of researchers from US and India stated, “Our investigation suggests an outbreak of acute encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur associated with both hypoglycin A and MCPG toxicity.“
The blood glucose level in a human body is severely affected by the amino acid in litchis especially the unripe ones. The researchers mentioned in the journal stating, “Parents in affected villages report that during May and June, young children frequently spend their day eating litchis in the surrounding orchards; many return home in the evening uninterested in eating a meal”. The majority of the people become unconscious and have seizures either during early morning or in the middle of the night.
Fruits like litchi, rambutan and longan contain amino acids which acts as the main culprit. A study was conducted to find the main cause of poisoning among children. Urine samples of two third of the children showed the evidence of toxins found in litchi seeds that are found in a higher level in unripe fruits. This impairs the glucose synthesis in the human body that further causes low blood sugar and brain inflammation in the children.
The researchers have advised minimising the consumption of litchi to prevent illness and poisoning in children. A child showing symptoms of illness should be treated to correct sugar levels in order to avoid mental impairment, muscle weakness, and movement disorders.
