Pediatrics in Review
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 Vol. 18 No. 5, May 1997
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Right arrow Poisoning

(Pediatrics in Review. 1997;18:162-168.)
© 1997 American Academy of Pediatrics

Poisonous Plants: When They Are a Threat to Children

Ruth A. Lawrence, MD
 Professor of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.


   IMPORTANT POINTS
 

  1. Pediatricians need to be aware of potential hazards posed by poisonous plants.
  2. Pediatricians should know where to obtain timely and reliable information about plant toxins.
  3. Exposure to plant toxins should be part of the differential diagnosis of unexplained signs and symptoms.
  4. Pediatricians should be knowledgeable about appropriate management of exposures to toxic plants.
  5. By providing appropriate anticipatory guidance, pediatricians can reduce morbidity from exposure to toxic plants.


   Introduction
 
Plant ingestions among children in the United States are common. National data compiled from poison information centers across the country suggest that 5% to 10% of calls are about plant exposures and that most of these involve children younger than 6 years of age. A surprising number of ingestions occur in children 12 months and younger because of the proximity of household plants to their highchairs and playpens or because berries and leaves have dropped to the floor. Group exposures occur when older children explore their environment and eat berries because they look good or because of peer pressure. The clinical effects of the ingestions on the child can range from mildly irritating to nearly fatal, depending on the plant and the dose. The key to the problem, as with any exposure, is prevention. Knowledge about the proper identification and edibility of plants is paramount.

It is not possible to compile a complete list of hazardous plants, in large part because some plants have both edible and toxic parts, such as the potato (sprouts and vine are toxic), tomato (roots and vine are toxic), rhubarb (leaves are toxic), asparagus (all but the tender shoots are toxic), and poke weed (only the early shoots are safe). The entire plant kingdom can be divided into those species that are totally safe, those that cause contact dermatitis, those that cause mechanical injury (thorns, barbs), and those . . . [Full Text of this Article]






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Copyright © 1997 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.