Datura delirium

Poisoning with tropine alkaloids from cultivated plants and pharmaceuticals is an uncommon cause of delirium and coma. We report a patient with a toxic delirium following ingestion of the tropine alkaloid-containing root of Datura innoxia. Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmed the presence of atropine and scopolamine in samples of the ingested root. Routine clinical toxin screens may not include an assay for tropine alkaloids. A specific tropine alkaloid assay may provide supporting evidence. The clinical, electroencephalographic, and therapeutic aspects of anticholinergic poisoning are discussed.