An
interesting story in the news caught my eye sometime ago. The Oyo State
Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, had paraded two suspects who allegedly
killed a 42-year old woman. The suspects claimed the victim died of magun, a killer charm.
One of them said she started vomiting
after he made love to her, fell down from the chair, somersaulted and
died. It was then he decided, in his wisdom, to behead her and cut off
her two hands.
Magun is a Yoruba term which
literally means “Do not climb” or “Do not touch.” It is an invisible
sign that says, “Do not have sexual relations with this person.” Yoruba
believe that the man who has sexual intercourse with a woman under the
influence of magun could suffer various afflictions ranging from headache, seizures to possibly death.
Also, of course, depending on the interpretation, magun
could affect the woman, as in this illustrative case. The assumption
being that she is in a relationship already and the partner/family had
placed magun on her to deter her from promiscuity.
The story is noteworthy for two reasons: One, there is nothing like magun.
Secondly, this level of ignorance and depravity is fostered by the
irresponsible Nigerian film industry, Nollywood. I will tell you why.
I had a patient with a similar
presentation of stroke a few years ago in Scotland, United Kingdom. A
53-year-old man was transferred to the Accident & Emergency
following a distress call. He collapsed following sexual intercourse. He
had complained of sudden severe headache and felt sick with nausea and
vomiting. Shortly after, he lost consciousness and became unresponsive.
His partner quickly phoned the ambulance service and he was taken to
hospital. At the hospital, he was completely unresponsive and had to be
resuscitated. When he woke up, he had a convulsion and became
unconscious again. However, he soon regained his senses and was admitted
to hospital.
Investigations revealed that he had
suffered a severe stroke. We treated him for the stroke and he was
discharged home safely: to resume sexual relations with his partner,
without any further problems. He remains alive and well today and still
enjoying sex.
Post-coital headaches and stroke
Sexual activity may, on occasion, be complicated by neurologic syndromes of headache, seizures and amnesia. Orgasmic cephalgia
(headaches after orgasm) and post-coital headaches (headaches after sex
or even after masturbation) have been reported in the literature from
different parts of the world. When doctors see a patient with headaches
during or after sexual intercourse, we are most concerned. The most
important diagnosis is a type of stroke called subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Post-coital headache is a recognised
presentation of some patients with this type of stroke, due to weakness
of a part of the blood vessels in the brain. The vessels burst open due
to the stress of the sexual act, leading to bleeding inside the brain.
The bleeding causes acute increased pressure in the head; while
convulsion and death can subsequently occur.
Many case reports abound in the English
literature of post-coital stroke similar to the one in Scotland
described earlier. A case of headache associated with sexual activity in
a 40- year-old married Indian man was also recently added to the
literature.
Magun is a strong superstition
among Yoruba. Confusing the diagnosis of post-coital stroke with this
superstition means that patients would be denied the medical management
they require. There is such a strong stigma attached to the superstition
that patients are often immediately taken to the local witch doctor or
the worship centre. Therefore, there is very little in the local
literature about this, as many patients do not present to hospital. More
importantly, the woman is often subjected to intimidation, abuse and
physical assault. The innocent woman was killed as in the index case in
Ibadan.
It is imperative that the condition is
highlighted in the media and Nigerians reminded about this presentation
of stroke. Many people all over the world have suffered from this type
of stroke and have been treated adequately. The patients often present
with confusion, nausea, vomiting, seizures, loss of consciousness and
severe headache. Timely resuscitation and management can prevent death
from this potentially treatable condition and stroke disease.
Nollywood and African Magic
Nollywood is the colloquial term which
has now become the official name for Nigeria’s feature film industry.
So, what about Nollywood and our health? The answer is simple: There is a
relationship between the information passed across in movies and public
health. And Nigeria is not different. In fact, the effect of TV
programmes on people’s perspective of health is more accentuated in
Nigeria.
Nollywood is currently irresponsible and
perpetuates myths and misconceptions, thereby preventing the natural
death of dangerous ideas, bad practices and superstitions such as magun. Nollywood fosters the persistence of ignorance in Nigeria. It should be admonished.
I rest my case: Please, don’t touch me!
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