Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series

Khat chewing and cirrhosis in Somaliland: Case series

BACKGROUND Khat chewing is common especially among men in East Africa and Yemen. It is generally viewed by the populace as a benign social custom. Several studies of ethnic Somali immigrants to Western countries suggest an association between khat chewing and hepatotoxicity, but the risk of hepatotoxicity related to khat chewing within African settings is not documented. AIM To identify and d...

The ambiguity of khat in Somaliland.

AIM OF THE STUDY This article presents an analysis of the economic, political and socio-cultural significance of khat in Somaliland, highlighting both its positive and negative effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirteen months of anthropological fieldwork in Somaliland, two months of anthropological fieldwork among Somalis in London, four months experience from the Somalia Joint Needs Assessment...

Khat chewing can cause stroke.

Khat chewing and acute myocardial infarction.

Fresh leaves from khat trees (Catha edulis Celestrasae) are chewed daily by over 20 million people in Yemen and East African countries. Chewing khat (qat) is a popular social habit which has spread to Yemeni, Somali or East African communities in the USA and UK. The pleasure derived from khat chewing is attributed to the euphoric actions of S-(−)cathinone, a sympathomimetic amine with propertie...

Oral White Lesions Associated with Chewing Khat

INTRODUCTION Khat is a cultivated plant whose leaves when chewed elevate mood. Unlike the chewing of betel nut, no association between the white oral mucosal lesions in khat users and oral malignancies has been reported. Chewing of khat has been documented in many countries and has increased with worldwide migration. The impact of chewing khat upon the oral mucosa is essentially unknown. PURP...