Thirteen children hospitalized after consuming toxic tuba-tuba fruit in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY — Thirteen children were hospitalized Monday evening after consuming fruit from a tuba-tuba plant in Barangay Topland, health authorities reported. The children, residents of Sitio Kolondafok, developed symptoms including vomiting, dizziness, and acute stomach pain several hours after eating the fruit from Jatropha curcas, a plant species whose seeds and other parts contain toxic compounds.

The affected children were transported to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Hospital officials did not immediately disclose the condition of the patients or expected duration of their hospital stay.

The tuba-tuba plant, commonly found throughout the Philippines and Southeast Asia, is widely recognized as toxic to humans. While the plant has been traditionally used for medicinal and industrial purposes in some regions, consumption of its fruit and seeds can cause severe gastrointestinal distress and other serious health complications.

The incident has drawn attention to the risks posed by unfamiliar plants in communities, particularly for children who may not recognize the dangers of consuming wild vegetation. Local health officials are expected to issue guidance on plant safety awareness in the affected area.