About the place of poison ivy - a highly poisonous plant that is easier to find than vegetables

Heartbreaking deaths

Since 2017, Nghe An province has witnessed many suicides using poison ivy, causing a stir in the community. Most of these suicides occurred in areas where Mong people live. The main causes of death were conflicts in love, family, or simply the egoistic and vulnerable nature of Mong women.

Poison ivy in the highlands of Nghe An. Photo: Dao Tho

On February 28, a 17-year-old Mong girl named Xong Y P. from Huoi Khe village (Muong Ai commune - Ky Son) committed suicide after only 4 days of marriage. The initial cause was determined to be that her marriage was not as she wished, so Xong Y P. was so upset that she wrote a suicide note and then committed suicide.

17 year old girl committed suicide by eating poison ivy 4 days after getting married

(Baonghean.vn) - Leaving a suicide note stating that her marriage was not as she wished, and now she cannot leave her husband, so she no longer wants to live, a 17-year-old Mong girl in Ky Son district, Nghe An province ate poison leaves and committed suicide.

Previously, on the morning of September 6, 2017, people in Tham Hon village (Na Ngoi commune - Ky Son) were also shocked to discover that 3 students: Xong Ba D., Xong Ba X. and Xong Ba R. (all born in 2009), 3rd graders of Na Ngoi 1 Primary School, had committed suicide by eating poison ivy. Later, the 2 students were saved, but Xong Ba D. died of severe poisoning. The reason was also very simple, just because the teacher reminded them about taking toys from the kindergarten. Afraid that the teachers would report to their families, all 3 students went to the field to pick poison ivy to eat.

The pain of a family whose daughter committed suicide by eating poison ivy in Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son). Photo: Dao Tho

When asked about this cause, Mr. Xong Ba Denh - Secretary of the Youth Union of Na Ngoi commune (Ky Son) said: "Most Mong people live in high mountainous areas, far from hospitals, so treatment is difficult. Moreover, people who want to commit suicide often go alone, in deserted terrain, few people know, so when they are discovered, it is too late. The main cause is also very normal conflicts but shallow thinking leads to death."

Poisonous plants grow all over the hills

According to Mr. Xong Ba Denh, since 2015, there have been more than a dozen cases of suicide by eating poison ivy. Some people died, some were lucky enough to be rescued in time. Just 3 small shoots are enough to take a person's life. If a person eats a lot and does not receive emergency treatment within 30 minutes, there is no hope.

Close-up of poison ivy. Photo: Dao Tho

Xong Ba Denh showed us the poisonous plants growing everywhere. They were everywhere, at the entrances to the village, on the fields, at the edge of the forest, and along the road. The plant has a small vine that grows on the ground, and its yellow flowers look very beautiful, but if someone is not aware, just nibbling on a leaf will immediately cause poison to seep into the body, possibly causing death within a few dozen minutes. We tried to pick it up and Xong Ba Denh warned: “You must wash your hands thoroughly.”

The Mong elders said that if the poisoning is detected early, people will use a hose to put water into the poisoned person's body to make them vomit. In more serious cases, they will have to use diluted animal feces and give them to drink. However, to save their lives, they must be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility.

Poison ivy has beautiful yellow flowers but contains highly toxic substances. Photo: Dao Tho

"Every year, our youth union has organized to uproot hundreds of tons of poison ivy. However, this method is not very effective because after uprooting, it grows back like grass. Currently, we are focusing on propaganda and mobilization to raise awareness among people and instruct them on first aid skills for people who have eaten poison ivy," added Mr. Xong Ba Denh.

According to Master, Doctor Nguyen Trung Nguyen - Head of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital:When eating aconite, if not detected early, first aid, emergency treatment and timely treatment, the patient usually dies after 1-7 hours of poisoning. Therefore, when detecting a person poisoned by aconite, the initial treatment method is extremely important, must quickly remove the poison from the body by measures such as inducing vomiting: drink a lot of water and then hook the throat to stimulate vomiting, then quickly transfer to the nearest medical facility to remove the poison, prevent absorption of the poison by washing the stomach, drinking activated charcoal, intravenous fluids. Then urgently transport the patient to a specialized hospital with full emergency equipment for detoxification treatment and actively avoid serious, dangerous late complications, the risk of leading to death.