title: Colocynth toxicity. A possible cause of bloody diarrhea.
abstract: Five cases of toxicity due to consumption of an uncommon wild fruit called Colocynth are described. These cases were seen over a period of 2 years. Severe bouts of bloody diarrhea were encountered in these patients. The plant, its ingredients, the medicinal and other uses, features of toxicity and the management is discussed. Doctors are advised to be aware of this uncommon clinical problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Najran General Hospital, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. saroshahmed@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sarosh A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Hamdi H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Shelleh
authors.forename: Abdul R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Khalid S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bhat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000633:toxicity*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia