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Poisoning by poisonous plants: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
 
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A small number of common plants are poisonous. To the highly toxic and potentially fatal plants are common castor beans, prayer acres, poisonous hemlock, hemlock water, oleander and digitalis containing glycosides. Specific antidotes are known for a small number of plant poisons.

Moderately poisonous plants

Plant

Symptoms

Treatment

Aloe

Gastroenteritis, nephritis, skin irritation

Maintenance treatment and washing with soap and water

Azalea

Cholinergic symptoms

Supportive treatment and atropine

Cacti

Infection, formation of granuloma

Removing spines

Caladium

Damage to the oral mucosa with the remaining crystals of calcium oxalate

Supportive treatment and the binding of a poisonous substance (milk or ice cream)

Pepper

Irritation of mucous membranes and swelling

Supportive treatment, washing and, if possible, binding of a poisonous substance

Colchicine (autumn saffron, meadow saffron)

Delayed gastroenteritis, multiple organ failure

Supportive treatment and colchicine-specific fractionated antibodies *

Belladonna

Anticholinergic symptoms, hallucinations

Supportive treatment; with severe hyperthermia or convulsions, physostigmine is prescribed

Diffembachia (wordless stick)

Damage to the oral mucosa with the remaining crystals of calcium oxalate

Supportive treatment and the binding of a poisonous substance (milk or ice cream)

Fava beans (horse beans)

In patients with deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: gastroenteritis, fever, headache, hemolytic anemia

Supportive treatment; when severe poisoning and anemia think about replacement transfusion

Green potatoes or potato sprouts

Gastroenteritis, hallucinations,

Supportive treatment

Berries of holly

Gastroenteritis

Supportive treatment

Dope stinking

Anticholinergic symptoms, hallucinations

Supportive treatment; with severe hyperthermia or convulsions-physostigmine

Lily of the meadow

Hyperkalemia, arrhythmias

See the description of digitalis preparations in the appropriate section.

Mistletoe

Gastroenteritis

Supportive treatment

Nettle

Local itching and burning

Supportive treatment

Datura is ordinary or wooden

Gastroenteritis, hallucinations,

Supportive treatment

Philodendron spp.

Damage to the oral mucosa with the remaining crystals of calcium oxalate

Supportive treatment and the binding of a poisonous substance (milk or ice cream)

Euphorbia beautiful

Minor irritation of mucous membranes

Not necessary

Poison ivy

Dermatitis

See Chap. 114

Phytolacca American

Irritation of mucous membranes, gastroenteritis

Supportive treatment

Epipramnum

Damage to the oral mucosa with the remaining crystals of calcium oxalate

Supportive treatment and the binding of a poisonous substance (milk or ice cream)

Yew

Gastroenteritis; rarely - arrhythmias, convulsions, coma

Supportive treatment

* Outside of France is not available.

Kleshchevina contains ricin, highly concentrated poison in a relatively impermeable shell. To release ricin and poisoning it is necessary to chew the seeds of the plant. Abrus prayer also contains concentrated cellular poison, which can lead to death by swallowing seeds, for children - even one seed. Symptoms of poisoning include gastroenteritis, which develops after a latent period, often severe and hemorrhagic, with delirium, convulsions, coma and death. In order to remove all the eaten fruits, it may be recommended to wash the intestines.

Oleander, digitalis and other similar, but less toxic lily can cause gastroenteritis, frustration, hyperkalemia and arrhythmias. Evaluation of the concentration of digoxin in the blood plasma can confirm the fact of poisoning, but quantitative analysis is impossible. Careful monitoring of K + blood concentration is required . Hyperkalemia may require hemodialysis because of resistance to other treatments. Calcium preparations are not recommended for the treatment of arrhythmias. Fragments of digoxin-specific fractionated antibodies can be used to treat ventricular arrhythmias.

When poisoning hemlock, symptoms develop within 15 minutes. Hemorrhagic poisonous causes activation of H-cholinergic receptors in the body, causing dry mouth, tachycardia, tremor, excessive sweating, mydriasis, convulsions, muscle paresis. There may be bradycardia and rhabdomyolysis. Acidic boli increases the activity of y-aminobutyric acid, symptoms - gastroenteritis, delirium, refractory convulsions, coma.

trusted-source[1], [2], [3]

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