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Plant poisoning
Blake Froberg1, Danyal Ibrahim, R Brent Furbee
1Indiana Poison Center, Methodist Hospital, Clarian Health Partners, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1367, USA.
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America
|May 8, 2007
Summary
Over 100,000 toxic plant exposures occur annually in the US, with adults facing higher risks from mistaken identity or intentional ingestion. This review focuses on plants causing fatalities and emergency visits, categorized by toxins.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Botany
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Annual reports exceed 100,000 US poison center exposures to toxic plants.
- Pediatric ingestions are common but typically low-quantity and minimally toxic.
- Serious poisonings often involve adults mistaking plants or using them for perceived medicinal/toxic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and discuss plants documented to cause fatalities.
- To highlight plants frequently leading to emergency medicine visits.
- To categorize plants based on their toxic compounds rather than botanical classification.
Main Methods:
- Review of documented plant-induced fatalities.
- Analysis of emergency medicine visit data related to plant exposures.
- Classification of plants by chemical toxins, not by taxonomic groups.
Main Results:
- Certain plants are consistently linked to severe poisoning outcomes and fatalities.
- Adult exposures present a greater risk for severe toxicity compared to pediatric cases.
- Grouping by toxin reveals common mechanisms of plant-induced toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Understanding plant toxins is crucial for managing severe poisoning cases.
- This toxin-based classification aids in recognizing and treating plant-related emergencies.
- Awareness of high-risk plants and their toxic properties is vital for public health.
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