Over two years in a major hospital in northern Uganda 12 cases of primary volvulus of the small bowel were seen out of a total of 65 cases of intestinal obstruction which did not include external hernias. This relatively high incidence was associated with drinking large amounts of local "kongo" beer. General systemic symptoms of circulatory collapse were conspicuous by their absence. The kongo beer was found to have a high concentration of serotonin, and this substance may have caused the volvulus of the small bowel in three quarters of the cases.
Adolescent Adult