Expert warns mothers against using breast milk to treat eye infections in children

Dr Panshak Tenmang, a Senior Registrar at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), has advised mothers to avoid the use of breast milk to treat eye infections in children.

Tenmang, who told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos, that such practice could do more harm than good to the eyes of their babies.

“It is a myth that the use of substances such as urine, sugar solution, black powder, native herbs and petrol were efficacious in the treatment of various eye ailments in children.

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“It’s a myth that traditional practices which are harmful had the efficacy to treat an eye infection in a child.

“Most of the substances used are harmful to the cornea and could induce blindness,” he said.

Tenmang explained that once the cornea was damaged “it becomes impossible for light to pass through it, thereby impeding the vision of the child.’’

The physician said that vitamin A deficiency could also cause childhood blindness, calling on parents to avail their children of the routine immunisation of which Vitamin A is one of such vaccines.

He warned that unattended eye diseases in children could lead to blindness, saying that early diagnosis and treatment were very critical to maintaining the child’s sight.