Hepatotoxicity from castor bean ingestion in a child.
BACKGROUND
Castor beans contain ricin, one of the most toxic substances known. A biphasic toxicity is described consisting of acute and potentially fatal gastroenteritis followed by damage to the viscera several days later. However, the most current review of the literature states that the above delayed toxicity has not been reported.


METHODS
We report a 20-month-old girl with no gastrointestinal symptoms who developed reversible hepatotoxicity beginning 48-72 hours after the ingestion of castor beans.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems prudent to follow for several days any patients who actually chewed castor beans before ingestion.
Palatnick
W
W
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Tenenbein
M
M
D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012639:Seeds / Q000506:poisoning