[A case of acute poisoning of typhonium giganteum engler].

Unicorn lotus is a plant tuber in the araceae family, which has therapeutic effects such as dispelling cold and dampness, dispelling wind and phlegm, and treating stroke. However, acute poisoning of fresh Unicorn lotus has been rarely reported domestically and internationally. This article reports a case of poisoning caused by chewing unicorn lotus. The patient experienced numbness in the lips, swelling and rupture of the oral cavity, continuous salivation, difficulty swallowing and obvious burning sensation in the throat, accompanied by shortness of breath and mild hypoxemia. After receiving comprehensive treatments such as oxygen therapy, electrocardiographic monitoring, cleaning of necrotic oral mucosa, anti infection, inhibition of oral salivary secretion, and nutritional support, the patient finally recovered and was discharged.

[DIEFFENBACHIA POISONING].

INTRODUCTION: A 70-year-old woman suffered severe irritation in her oral cavity after biting Dieffenbachia amoena petiole. She was treated a few hours after the exposure with systemic and local analgesics, as well as with systemic first generation antihistamine, and her symptoms improved rapidly. Dieffenbachia is a common household plant that contains oxalate raphides which cause irritation and microtrauma. Injuries are caused by exposure through the mouth, and also by contact with eyes or skin. Clinical presentation is dependent on the route of exposure. It includes pain and edema in the oral cavity following biting the leaves or the stem of the plant. Direct oral contact with the plant juice can also cause symptoms. There are some case reports of severe injuries that caused oro-pharyngeal inflammation and edema, with impending obstruction of the upper airways. Treatment includes respiratory support. Water or milk can be given to alleviate oral and throat irritation; some clinicians recommend first generation antihistamines. It should be noted that treatment recommendations are based on reports, not on clinical trials.

[Dieffenbachia poisoning in an infant]. / Intoxicatie van een zuigeling door een Dieffenbachia.

BACKGROUND: Plant poisoning is becoming an increasingly common reason to consult a doctor. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 7-month-old infant was sent to the emergency room by her general practitioner with a suspected apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). Her parents reported the sudden development of fluctuating restlessness and listlessness, superficial breathing, vomiting, drowsiness and episodes of loss of consciousness. On physical examination we saw a pale, listless and variably responsive girl. During admission for observation, she improved within a few hours, although she had one episode of blood admixture with the stool. After discharge from hospital, the infant's grandmother suggested that the symptoms could be due to poisoning from a Dieffenbachia plant. The literature supports this explanation. CONCLUSION: Young parents and doctors appear to know little about plant toxicity in general and Dieffenbachia in particular. In small children with poorly-understood symptoms, the possibility plant poisoning should be considered.

Airway obstruction in a dog after Dieffenbachia ingestion.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of Dieffenbachia ingestion in a dog presented for dysphagia and airway obstruction successfully treated with a temporary tracheostomy and supportive care beyond that reported in the veterinary literature. CASE SUMMARY: An 8-year-old male neutered Labrador Retriever, weighing 30 kg, was presented with the complaint of choking and gagging. Abdominal radiographs showed that he had a distended stomach full of foreign material and a gastrotomy was performed. After receiving preanesthetic medication, the dog developed inspiratory stridor and during anesthetic induction, marked oropharyngeal swelling complicated tracheal intubation. During surgery a large amount of dog bedding and Dieffenbachia plant material was removed. Because of the severity of the oropharyngeal swelling, the dog required a temporary tracheostomy and treatment for an acute allergic reaction related to the Dieffenbachia ingestion. The patient was discharged after 6 days in the hospital and had no significant complications. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful treatment of an airway obstruction related to the toxicity of Dieffenbachia ingestion.

Renal failure in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) following ingestion of oxalate containing plants.

A 1-year-old guinea pig presented with anorexia, lethargy, and weight loss, 1 week after ingesting a peace lily leaf. Laboratory findings were suggestive of renal failure and included elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine with concurrent isosthenuria. The guinea pig was euthanized 1 month later due to worsening clinical signs.

Outbreak of food-borne illness associated with plant material containing raphides.

BACKGROUND: Many botanicals, particularly ornamental house-plants, contain crystals of calcium oxalate called raphides. Raphides have known toxic effects when chewed, including painful edema, vesicle formation, and dysphagia. We report a food-borne illness outbreak associated with ingestion of raphides. METHODS: On February 24, 2003, the Chicago Department of Public Health was notified of multiple cases of oral burning and facial edema associated with lunch in an office cafeteria on February 21. The investigation included a case-control study, interviews with kitchen staff, an environmental inspection, and laboratory analysis of leftover foods. RESULTS: Ten cases were identified, including one admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for potential airway obstruction secondary to severe edema, and another seen by Emergency Department staff for oral edema and pain. Ten of 10 case-patients reported oral stinging and burning, and 8 of 10 reported dysphagia. Four of 10 case-patients continued to have symptoms 2 weeks later. Food from the cafeteria's international buffet was consumed by 10 of 10 case-patients and by 1 of 22 control subjects (odds ratio=undefined); each of the 10 case-patients reported consumption of a Chinese vegetable entrée from the international buffet and had no other foods in common. Plant material from the Chinese vegetable entrée contained raphides. CONCLUSION: This outbreak was associated with consumption of raphides resembling those from common botanicals. Clinicians and public health practitioners should be aware of raphide-containing plants as a potential cause of food-borne illness.

Accidental fatal poisoning of a dog by Dieffenbachia picta (dumb cane).

A single case of accidental fatal poisoning by Dieffenbachia picta, (dumb cane) (Araceae) in a 9-y-old female Poodle is described. Clinical signs included severe, locally extensive erosive/ulcerative glossitis accompanied by marked dyspnea of acute onset. The animal did not respond to emergency procedures to relieve severe respiratory distress; fatal asphyxiation ensued from edema of the glottis a few hours after the first clinical signs were observed. According to the owner, the dog had access to a tall, potted dumb cane plant and chewed the thick stem of the plant intensely. The owner did not authorize a necropsy of the animal. The diagnosis of Dieffenbachia picta poisoning was based on the history of accidental consumption of dumb cane and clinical signs. A comparison of this single case with other reports of dumb cane poisoning suggests that dogs poisoned by Dieffenbachia species usually recover uneventfully with conservative management and that death from asphyxiation is a rare but possible consequence of this intoxication. Severe edematous swelling of the glottis with occlusion of the larynx airway passage can occur in those cases in which large amounts of sap are quickly squeezed from the plant during intense chewing. Death would occur if owners do not seek veterinary care immediately and if emergency procedures are not instituted on time.