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Poisoning from "Spanish fly" (cantharidin)

D J Karras1, S E Farrell, R A Harrigan

  • 1Division of Emergency Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|September 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Spanish fly, containing cantharidin, can cause severe poisoning with symptoms like burning mouth and kidney damage. Medical professionals should suspect cantharidin poisoning in patients with unexplained bleeding or gastrointestinal issues.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cantharidin, a chemical derived from blister beetles and popularly known as Spanish fly, has historical use as a sexual stimulant.
  • While often present in negligible amounts, illicit preparations can contain toxic concentrations of cantharidin.

Observation:

  • This study reports four cases of cantharidin poisoning presenting with symptoms including dysuria, dark urine, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Patients exhibited signs of upper gastrointestinal mucosal erosion, hemorrhage, and renal dysfunction, including acute tubular necrosis.

Findings:

  • Cantharidin poisoning can lead to severe toxicity, including gastrointestinal and renal damage.
  • Two patients presented with low-grade disseminated intravascular coagulation, a complication not previously associated with cantharidin poisoning.

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Implications:

  • Cantharidin poisoning may be more prevalent than recognized due to the availability of Spanish fly and unwitting ingestions.
  • Clinicians should consider cantharidin poisoning in patients with unexplained hematuria or upper GI hemorrhage with diffuse injury.