Corrosive Esophagitis after Ingestion of Chinese Squill

ABSTRACT

Acute toxicities of Chinese squill (Scilla scilloides), a kind of herb used as a folk remedy to relieve pain in Korea, have rarely been reported. We here present a 59-year-old woman who developed corrosive esophagitis after ingestion of the decocted Chinese squill. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed three days after ingestion of Chinese squill showed corrosive esophagitis. She was successfully managed with conservative care including fasting and intravenous hydration with acid suppressants. Corrosive esophagitis after ingestion of Chinese squill has never been reported in English or Korean literature and corrosive esophagitis should be suspected when a patient develops odynophagia after ingestion of Chinese squill.