title: A case of infantile star anise toxicity.
abstract: Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) is a popular herbal remedy for infantile colic. Contamination with a related species of Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum) has been related to cases of toxicity in infants. We report the case of a 3-month-old infant girl who presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms of toxicity after recent star anise ingestion. Her presentation is consistent with other reports of toxicity that include particular gastrointestinal and neurological findings. A discussion of the clinical aspects of star anise toxicity, differential diagnosis, and management follows.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. grm7q@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Gregory Russell
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Kristine Held
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fullerton
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D003085:Colic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D029523:Illicium / Q000506:poisoning*; D007223:Infant; D007783:Lactones / Q000506:poisoning*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000506:poisoning*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000506:poisoning*; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D009498:Neurotoxins; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013141:Spiro Compounds; C031244:anisatin