title: Ricin poisoning causing death after ingestion of herbal medicine.
abstract: Ricin intoxication is a fatal and an uncommon medical condition. We report a case of ricin poisoning in a 42-year-old Saudi male patient who ingested a herbal medicine mixture containing ricin bean powder, after which he presented with gastrointestinal symptoms followed by gastrointestinal bleeding and hypotension. The patient then passed into a state of shock with respiratory failure followed by cardiac arrest and death. Public health awareness of self-prescribed herbal medications is necessary.
authors.affiliation: College Of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. aassiri@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdullah S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Assiri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000506:poisoning*; D011042:Poisons; D012276:Ricin / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations; D011042:Poisons; D012276:Ricin