title: Toxicities of raw Alocasia odora.
abstract: Alocasia, the Araceae family, is a genus of more than 100 species of perennial, herbaceous, diminutive to extremely large, usually robust herbs with a clear-to-milky latex. They are distributed throughout subtropical and tropical Asia and in the tropical western pacific as well as eastern Australia. Despite easy access to A odora, there have been no published reports in English regarding the toxic symptoms following the ingestion of raw A odora. Here, the clinical manifestations of 2 patients that ingested raw A odora are described. Two patients experienced oral numbness and intractable tongue pain, and 1 patient required endotracheal intubation because of upper respiratory tract obstruction. Although conservative treatment is the primary approach to A odora poisoning, physicians should be aware of the potential for upper respiratory obstruction in patients exposed to A odora, as well as the need for controlling tongue pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital & Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Byeong Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byeong Jo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D031055:Alocasia / Q000633:toxicity*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000633:toxicity; D014059:Tongue
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; D009020:Morphine