Poisonous plants: when they are a threat to children

Plant toxic to humans abound in home and yard as well as open fields and woods. Only experienced botanists and serious students of edible vegetation can distinguish safely what is edible, inedible, or simply toxic. Parents should be instructed to protect their children from truly toxic household plants and train their children never to eat a plant not provided to them by someone trustworthy as edible. If a child or an adult consumes a possibly toxic plant, the regional poison center should be contacted for identification and management instructions. As with all potential poisonings, the sooner the management is initiated, the better the outcome. Adults have been seriously poisoned by confusing a toxic plant with something that they thought was edible (eg, pokeweed root for horseradish). The pediatrician's office should be a model, with only nontoxic plants on display-no dieffenbachia, peace lily, pothos, or philodendron, for example.