Around 30 to 40 patients come to Lahan Hospital daily on average seeking treatment for abdominal complaints. "Most of them complain of diarrhea, stomach pain and nausea," said Dr Mishri Lal Sah. Dr Sah said a majority of the complaints result from the eating of mangoes ripened through the use of carbide. [break]
Mangoes ripen naturally by mid-June but businessmen use the chemical carbide to ripen them early and fetch higher prices. "Carbide has a negative effect on the stomach and intestines," Dr Pashupati Chaudhary said.
Chief of District Public Health Office Dr Raj Kumar Chaudhary said the number of patients coming in with stomach complaints is higher compared to last year. Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital has also reported a rise in the inflow of patients with upset tummies.
Siraha and Saptari districts are major mango producers in the country. The Agriculture Development Office, Siraha said that mango varieties like maldaha, dasahari and kalkatiya that normally mature at the end of June appeared in the market in late May.
Doctors say these mangoes, ripened prematurely through the use of carbide, are harmful to health although they look very attractive and tasty. They suggest that consumers instead buy green mangoes and keep them in a warm place to ripen them.
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