DIGOS CITY, Philippines -- At least a dozen children were rushed to the Davao del Sur provincial hospital here due to suspected poisoning after they reportedly ate jathropa nuts late Tuesday afternoon.
Ma. Luz Torres, attending physician, said the children, aged 5 to 12 and from Barangay (village) Matti here, were suffering severe stomach pains.
But Torres said timely medication alleviated the children's condition.
She said only four of the children had to be placed on intravenous fluids due to severe dehydration.
Jathropa, commonly known as tuba-tuba, is poisonous when ingested by humans and animals.
It is commonly cultivated for its oil content, which is used in the manufacture of automotive or industrial lubricants.
