Poison hemlock-induced respiratory failure in a toddler.
The ingestion of poison hemlock, or Conium maculatum, is described in a 2-year-old boy. He had the onset of abdominal pain and weakness after being fed C. maculatum picked by his sister from the roadside 2 hours earlier. He had a rapidly progressive muscular weakness and was intubated for respiratory failure. His symptoms completely resolved within 24 hours of the ingestion. Conium maculatum is a common weed that causes toxicity by its primary toxin, coniine, which stimulates nicotinic receptors and causes a syndrome of rapidly progressive muscle weakness and paralysis. We describe the course of a benign-appearing plant ingestion resulting in respiratory failure.
West
Patrick L
PL
Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Poison Center, Legacy Emmanuel Hospital, Mail Code CB 550, Portland, OR 97239, USA. westp@ohsu.edu
Horowitz
B Zane
BZ
Montanaro
Marc T
MT
Lindsay
James N
JN
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000931:Antidotes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002606:Charcoal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D029982:Conium / Q000506:poisoning*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004435:Eating; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
D000931:Antidotes; D002606:Charcoal