Hemlock (Conium Maculatum) Poisoning In A Child

Capan KONCA; Zelal KAHRAMANER; Mehmet BOSNAK; Halil KOCAMAZ

doi:10.5505/1304.7361.2013.23500

Capan KONCA¹, Zelal KAHRAMANER¹, Mehmet BOSNAK², Halil KOCAMAZ³

¹Department of Pediatrics, Adiyaman University Faculty of Medicine, Adiyaman
²Department of Pediatrics, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep
³Department of Pediatrics, Gaziantep Children Health and Diseases Hospital, Gaziantep

Keywords: Conium maculatum; childhood; poisoning; hemlock

Abstract

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a plant that is poisonous for humans and animals. Accidental ingestion of the plant may result in central nervous system depression, respiratory failure, acute rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure and even death. The main treatment of hemlock poisoning is supportive care. The case of a 6-year-old girl who was admitted to the emergency department with complaints of burning sensation in mouth, hypersalivation, tremor in hands and ataxia after ingestion of poison hemlock is presented here with clinical and laboratory features. In this case, we aim to report that accidental ingestion of plants resembling vegetables that are consumed daily can lead to serious complications and even death.