Childhood convulsions: a hospital survey on traditional remedies.

A study of one hundred and thirty five children with convulsions admitted in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria over a 15-month period, October 1986 to December 1987 showed that 65 (48%) of the children received some traditional remedy at home prior to presentation in hospital. Crude oil and palm kernel oil either singly or in combination were the most commonly administered remedies. The central nervous system was more affected by remedies containing crude oil than others (P < 0.05). Administration of cow's urine to convulsing children, reported from other parts of Nigeria, was not observed in the present study and would appear to be uncommon in this part of the country.