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Is the yew really poisonous to you?
E P Krenzelok1, T D Jacobsen, J Aronis
1Pittsburgh Poison Center, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Journal of Toxicology. Clinical Toxicology
|July 10, 1998
Summary
Taxus species (yew plants) rarely cause severe harm, with most exposures resulting in no or minor effects. Gastrointestinal symptoms are most common, and decontamination does not impact outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Yew plants (Taxus species) are known for their toxicity, with documented cases of severe human and livestock poisonings.
- Limited adverse reports can disproportionately influence perceptions of yew plant toxicity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile the toxicity of Taxus species exposures.
- To determine the percentage of exposures associated with significant morbidity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 11,197 Taxus species exposure cases from the AAPCC TESS database (1985-1994).
- Evaluation of patient demographics, outcomes, disposition, treatment, and symptoms using AAPCC TESS definitions.
Main Results:
- Over 96% of exposures involved children under 12.
- 92.5% of documented exposures had no adverse effects, and 7.0% had minor effects.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms were most frequent (65.5%); major effects occurred in 4 individuals, with no fatalities. Decontamination therapy showed no impact on outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Taxus species exposures rarely lead to significant morbidity.
- Gastrointestinal issues are the most common symptoms, aligning with existing literature.
- Decontamination interventions did not influence patient outcomes in this study.