The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2015 , Vol 57 , Num 1
Datura stramonium Poisoning in a Child
1Pediatric Emergency Division, 2Department of Pediatrics, Sütçü İmam University Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş,
Turkey. E-mail:kaganozkaya@yahoo.com
Hallucinogenic plant poisoning in children is a significant problem for the
emergency physician. We describe the case of a boy who had slurred speech,
fever, hallucinations, tachycardia, dilated pupils, confusion and disorientation.
He had no history of drug use or toxin intake. All signs and symptoms were
improved by supportive therapy within 48 hours. It turned out that the
patient had ingested seeds of Datura stramonium in a neighbor’s garden two
days previously. The medical history should be taken repeatedly in cases of
unknown etiology, and physicians should keep in mind the possibility that
unexplained anticholinergic toxidromes could be the result of exposure to
toxic plants, in particular those containing atropine and atropine derivates.
Keywords :
Datura stramonium, poisoning, child.