Abstract
Datura stramonium L. (DS) is a wild-growing plant widely distributed and easily accessible. It contains a variety of toxic anticholinergic alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscamine, and scopolamine. Voluntary or accidental ingestion can produce severe anticholinergic poisoning. We report an unusual case of DS intoxication occurring in a geophagous young child after accidental ingestion of the plant. Our case is original because of the young age of the victim and the underlying geophagia facilitating the occurrence of poisoning.
Highlights
Datura stramonium L (DS) is a hallucinogenic plant widely found in urban and rural areas
Datura stramonium L. (DS) is a wild-growing herb known as Jimson weed [1]
Typical symptoms of DS intoxication are those of atropine intoxication, which are dry skin and mucosa, flushing, mydriasis, sinus tachycardia, hyperpyrexia, decreased bowel sounds, urinary retention, and neurological disorders with ataxia, impaired short-term memory, disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, psychosis, agitated delirium, seizures, and coma
Summary
Datura stramonium L (DS) is a hallucinogenic plant widely found in urban and rural areas. This report illustrates an unusual case of DS poisoning occurring in a geophagous 3.5-year-old child after accidental ingestion of the foliage of the plant with earth. Case report A 3.5-year-old girl was brought to the emergency department by her parents for excitation, delirium, and hallucinations occurring within the hour following accidental ingestion of DS. She had a medical history of geophagia complicated by iron deficiency anemia, which had been treated 6 months ago. Facial and truncal skin was normal, and flushing was not detected She had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 11/15.
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