A fatal case of pepper poisoning.
An 8 month old infant died as the result of administration of a traditional remedy, given orally as an infusion of a red powder. The symptoms on admission were coughing with diarrhoea and vomiting. Analysis of the powder using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the suspicion of capsaicin. Pepper preparations, which are used as traditional medicines, are highly toxic and their use on infants should be discouraged.
Snyman
T
T
Indigenous Toxicology Unit, Department of Chemical Pathology, SAIMR, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Stewart
M J
MJ
Steenkamp
V
V
D002211:Capsaicin / Q000506:poisoning*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D013019:South Africa
D002211:Capsaicin