MANILA: A 51-year old man from Tagbilaran City, Bohol landed in a hospital after swallowing 120 seeds of the fruit santol, also known as cotton fruit.
The victim, Benbinido Fernandez, a resident of Barangay Putlongcam in Alicia, said he ate 30 pieces of the fruit and enjoyed it so much that he also consumed their seeds. Each santol fruit has four seeds.
The next day, Bendenido complained of an upset stomach and was unable to defecate and urinate prompting him to seek medical attention at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City.
The physicians conducted an ultrasound on his stomach and found out that the seeds were already blocking Fernandez’ bowels. The doctors decided to conduct a surgery if he would not be able to flush out the seeds on his own. A hospital clerk told Inquirer that Fernandez was able to defecate the seeds one after the other by after two days.
Meanwhile, doctors warned the public particularly children to avoid doing the same as it could put them in a similar danger.
According to research, santol seeds take a long time to be digested which causes stomach pain.
