title: [Dieffenbachia poisoning in an infant].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plant poisoning is becoming an increasingly common reason to consult a doctor.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 7-month-old infant was sent to the emergency room by her general practitioner with a suspected apparent life-threatening event (ALTE). Her parents reported the sudden development of fluctuating restlessness and listlessness, superficial breathing, vomiting, drowsiness and episodes of loss of consciousness. On physical examination we saw a pale, listless and variably responsive girl. During admission for observation, she improved within a few hours, although she had one episode of blood admixture with the stool. After discharge from hospital, the infant's grandmother suggested that the symptoms could be due to poisoning from a Dieffenbachia plant. The literature supports this explanation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young parents and doctors appear to know little about plant toxicity in general and Dieffenbachia in particular. In small children with poorly-understood symptoms, the possibility plant poisoning should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Medisch Centrum-Universiteit van Amsterdam, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Roel J T
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mocking
authors.forename: Kiry M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schene
authors.forename: Dianne A P G F
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Maingay-Visser
mesh_terms: D029064:Araceae / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis*