title: Liver failure secondary to poisoning by a homemade product made of star and green anise in a 4-month-old infant.
abstract: Intoxications in pediatric age represent a frequent cause of visit to the hospital emergency unit. Herb-made products can be toxic for the infant. The neurotoxic properties of the star anise (Illicium verum) have been widely described, although it is a classic product used to treat the infantile colic. Hepatic failure due to the consumption of anise herb elaborated infusions is presented as an exceptional finding in our environment. A case of a 4-month-old infant with hypertransaminasemia, severe coagulopathy, non ketotic hypoglycemia, moderated metabolic acidosis and neurologic symptoms such as seizures and nistagmus is described. After discarding infectious, metabolic and autoimmune etiology and through a meticulous anamnesis, the family referred having administered in the last two months a daily star anise and green anise (Pimpinella anisum) infusion to the patient. It is important to emphasize the serious risk of administering homemade herb infusions to infants.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterología Infantil, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, España.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Obando Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, España.
authors.forename: Patricia Luisa
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Martínez-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Pediatría, Hospital Costa del Sol, España.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pérez de Eulate Bazán
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, España.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de la Mota Ybancos
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, España.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Milano Manso
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterología Infantil, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga, España.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sierra Salinas
mesh_terms: D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003085:Colic; D006801:Humans; D029523:Illicium; D007223:Infant; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D028042:Pimpinella / Q000506:poisoning*; D028321:Plant Preparations
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations