title: Poisoning due to yam flour consumption in five families in Ilorin, Central Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food poisoning is known to occur sporadically from time to time due to poor hygienic preparation. Its occurrence rarely assumes epidemic proportion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the ccurrence of food poisoning due to yam flour consumption among five families and to create public awareness about the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Food poisoning due to yam flour consumption which occurred almost in quick succession between February and July 2005 among five family clusters in Ilorin is reported. They presented variedly with diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsion and loss of consciousness. They all recovered within 48 hours of admission. Even though we could not carry out toxicological tests, yam flour consumption was highly implicated as the cause. Investigations indicated that the use of certain lethal preservatives for the processing of the yam flour might be responsible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poisoning from consumption of yam flour should be a differential diagnosis of acute seizure disorder or the occurrence of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in the tropics. We recommend education on proper processing of all food products in view of the public health implication of doing otherwise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, P M B 1459, Ilorin. ooadedoyin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Adedoyin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ojuawo
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adesiyun
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Anigilaje
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000506:poisoning*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005433:Flour / Q000506:poisoning*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D035781:Siblings