Hey guys! Today we have a guest, Chisom Okoye. She is a medical laboratory scientist, and she tells the story of how she almost lost her friend to lice.
Read her story below…
I heard that one of my church members was hospitalised and in a very bad condition. I never knew it was my friend till the following Sunday during church service.
Our pastor gave the testimony and this was how the whole thing went down.
This lady went to make her hair for project defence, and was told by the hairdresser that she had lice. The hair dresser convinced her kerosene would kill the lice and proceeded to put it on every part of her hair.
When she got home, her mum told her she heard Sniper kills lice. Her mum sent her younger sister to buy the Sniper, and applied it to her head.
After then, she slept, woke up and wasn’t feeling comfortable. She had her bath but after that things still got worse and she felt dizzy. She fell and was rushed to the hospital. She was resuscitated and discharged the next day.
She didn’t stay up to two hours after discharge before the whole episode started again. The hospital she was taken to didn’t agree to admit her because they said it’s a suicide case. That she took sniper because of heart break.
The second hospital admitted her but referred her to a state hospital when they couldn’t do much for her. The state hospital didn’t have bed space and referred her to federal hospital. On the way, their car had issues and the lady looked like she would give up the ghost.
While waiting for the mechanic, her mum found a shop, bought scissors and cut her hair, washed it and poured oil and coconut water garnished with prayers. That was how the lady regained consciousness and started asking what happened to her.
Hmmmm…End of story.
There a lot of other stories on Sniper for head lice, which unfortunately ended in deaths. Some of us may be familiar with the news on BBC about an NYSC member who died of this in 2019.
Now, lets talk about Sniper
Sniper insecticide is a synthetic organophosphate, which belongs to the DDVP chemical family. It is being misused by many Nigerians as indoor insecticides, which is not the original purpose. Sniper is made for agricultural use, and in diluted proportions, for which it has even been banned by NAFDAC. It is also not to be inhaled or come in contact with the eyes or skin.
Pesticides can cause poisoning through inhalation, absorption by the skin, swallowing, or through the eyes or nose. In this lady’s case, it must have been absorbed by the skin and been inhaled as well.
How do you know a severe poisoning case?
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Increased rate of breathing
- Convulsions
- Loss of reflexes caused by damage to nerve fibres in the brain
- Unconsciousness
- Inability to breathe
- Constriction of eye pupils
A research found out that insecticides and herbicides increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Chronic exposure to these chemicals can also cause cancer.
Please, be careful what you apply to your skin, scalp, and what you drink too. Not everyone on the street or social media is a doctor, not even your mother. Before you practice anything, please check it out from an authentic site to ensure it’s safety.
Maureen
Medtrix 