PAEDIATRICIAN WARNS AGAINST HARMFUL PRACTICES DURING CHILD CONVULSIONS

A paediatrician at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Mrs Abies Ojokojo, has warned parents and caregivers against harmful practices during childhood convulsions, saying such interventions could cause serious injuries and further complications.

Ojokojo gave the warning on Friday, September 11, during a health talk at a women’s outreach organised by Christ Embassy, New Benin branch, in Benin. She urged caregivers to remain calm, protect the child from injury and seek prompt medical attention, noting that high fever could trigger convulsions in children.

She cautioned against putting substances such as urine, oils or mashed leaves into a child’s mouth during a seizure. She also warned against inserting spoons or fingers into the mouth, saying these could cause broken teeth, bites and breathing complications. Similarly, practices such as placing lit candles under a convulsing child’s feet could result in burns and other injuries.

According to the paediatrician, caregivers should remove dangerous objects around the child, loosen tight clothing and turn the child onto their side to help keep the airway clear. She said most convulsions stop within five minutes but stressed that children should be taken to a health facility, particularly when seizures persist or worsen.

Ojokojo also noted that some seizures may not involve obvious jerking movements, with affected children sometimes appearing to sit still while experiencing a seizure. She urged parents and bystanders to discourage harmful traditional interventions, stressing that medical care should not be delayed. She added that prayer and spiritual support could complement, but should not replace, appropriate medical treatment.

A study involving 500 mothers in Tegbesun, Ilorin, found that harmful home interventions during childhood convulsions were associated with complications including aspiration, eye damage and burns. The study reported that putting a hand or spoon into a child’s mouth accounted for 61.2 per cent of reported home interventions, underscoring the need for greater public education on safe seizure first aid.