Woman Sudden Kidney Failure After Meal: Doctor Says “This Vegetable Is Poisonous… You Shouldn’t Eat It”

According to Mrs. Wang's account, before being hospitalized, she ate a bowl of bitter gourd soup. While eating, she noticed the distinct bitterness of the bitter gourd, but she thought it could help clear heat, similar to bitter melon, so she continued eating it.

Two hours after eating, Mrs. Wang began experiencing severe abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and continuous vomiting. She also had diarrhea more than 20 times, with loose stools mixed with blood. Seeing her condition worsen, her family rushed her to Beilun People's Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China for emergency care.

Mrs. Wang was admitted in a state of shock, with low blood pressure, acute kidney failure, and in critical condition, potentially life-threatening, Jimu News reported.

Based on the family's account, doctors in the emergency department diagnosed her with food poisoning. Immediately, doctors performed endotracheal intubation, assisted with mechanical ventilation, administered vasoconstrictors, and provided intravenous fluids to balance electrolytes. After intensive treatment, Mrs. Wang survived the critical phase and was transferred to a regular room for continued treatment.

Dr. Jian Langfeng, Deputy Director of the Emergency Department at Beilun People's Hospital, explained that many people believe bitter-tasting vegetables can help clear heat, but in reality, not all bitter vegetables have this effect. Some vegetables with a bitter taste can contain toxins, including bitter gourd.

Dr. Jian Langfeng stated, “Normally, bitter gourd has a mild sweet taste. However, bitter gourd with a bitter taste contains a strong toxin called cucurbitacin. Cucurbitacin is not destroyed by heat, so even if the vegetable is cooked, it can still pose a poisoning risk. Therefore, people should avoid eating bitter-tasting bitter gourd.”

“Consuming even a small amount of cucurbitacin can cause poisoning, leading to symptoms such as vomiting and severe diarrhea. In severe cases, it can result in circulatory collapse, multiple organ failure, and even death if the patient is not treated promptly,” Dr. Jian Langfeng warned.

Dr. Jian Langfeng advises that if bitter gourd tastes bitter, people should stop eating it immediately. If one accidentally eats bitter gourd and experiences symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea (more than twice), they should go to the hospital for examination and treatment. It is also recommended to keep a sample of the food that was eaten and bring it to the hospital to help doctors quickly identify the cause of the illness, which can shorten treatment time.