Background: Poisoning is of the common methods of self-harm. Exposure to plants and its consequences account for considerable number of deaths in rural regions.
Objective: Describe the most common poisonous plant exposures causing either local or systemic toxic manifestations.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted by the Emergency Department (ED) over a period of 2 years. All cases presented to the ED with a history of exposure to plants were included. Data were analyzed and tabulated. Literature review was done to check for the poisonous principles, clinical features and management of exposure to poisonous plant.
Results: A total number of 62 cases were included. Male to female distribution was almost equal. Fifty cases were suicidal and 12 cases were accidental. In 56 cases, poisoning was by ingestion and in 6 cases by dermal exposure. Suicidal exposure was mostly in adults, while children were accidentally exposed. Twenty-six patients with oral ingestion died despite treatment, common cause being delayed presentation. Forty-six cases needed ICU admission for more than 3 days; indication for ICU admission was hemodynamic and electrolyte abnormalities. Common poisons causing mortality were Cleistanthus, oleander, and strychnine.
Conclusion: As plant poisoning not being uncommon, all emergency physicians should have complete knowledge of plant exposures. Management mostly being symptomatic, early treatment prevents mortality. Public should be educated about the high fatality rates in plant poisoning.
Key words: Plant poisoning, cardiac glycosides, contact irritant poisons, spinal poison, mitotic inhibitors
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