Nutmeg intoxication in Texas, 1998-2004.
Nutmeg is a spice that contains volatile oils comprised of alkyl benzene derivatives (myristicin, elemicin, safrole, etc.), terpenes and myristic acid. Nutmeg has a long history of abuse. This study describes the nutmeg ingestion calls received by Texas poison centers from 1998 to 2004. There were 17 calls involving nutmeg ingestion, of which 64.7% involved intentional abuse. When abuse and non-abuse ingestions were compared, abuse ingestions were more likely to involve males (100 versus 66.7%) and adolescents (55.6 versus 16.7%). The majority of both abuse and non-abuse calls were managed outside of health care facilities (54.5 and 66.7%, respectively). None of the ingestions resulted in more than moderate clinical effects or death.
Forrester
Mathias B
MB
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin 78756, USA. mathias.forrester@dshs.state.tx.us
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026323:Myristica / Q000506:poisoning*; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012639:Seeds / Q000506:poisoning; D012737:Sex Factors; D017365:Spices / Q000506:poisoning*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs