RT Book, Section
A1 Nelson, Lewis S.
A1 Goldfrank, Lewis R.
A2 Nelson, Lewis S.
A2 Howland, Mary Ann
A2 Lewin, Neal A.
A2 Smith, Silas W.
A2 Goldfrank, Lewis R.
A2 Hoffman, Robert S.
SR Print(0)
ID 1163016625
T1 Plants
T2 Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 11e
YR 2019
FD 2019
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259859618
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1163016625
RD 2024/04/25
AB Approximately  5%  of  all  human  exposures  reported  to  poison  control  centers  involve  plants.  The  large  number  of  exposures  probably  occur  because  plants  are  so  accessible  and  attractive  to  youngsters.  Approximately  80%  of  these  cases  involve  individuals  younger  than  6  years.  As  indoor  plants  have  become  ever  more  popular,  the  incidence  of  plant  exposures  has  increased.  Data  compiled  by  the  American  Association  of  Poison  Control  Centers  (AAPCC)  give  some  indication  of  which  plants  are  more  commonly  involved  (Chap.  130),  but  these  plants  typically  have  relatively  limited  toxicity.  More  than  80%  of  patients  reported  to  the  AAPCC  as  being  exposed  were  asymptomatic,  less  than  20%  had  minor  to  moderate  symptomatology,  and  less  than  7%  necessitated  a  health  care  visit.  The  benignity  of  these  exposures  in  the  United  States,  largely  due  to  the  unintentional  nature  of  the  event,  is  represented  by  a  fatality  rate  of  less  than  0.001%.  However,  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  plant  exposures,  particularly  those  taken  for  self-harm  and  where  health  care  is  less  accessible,  carry  a  significant  risk  and  public  health  burden.12  This  chapter  addresses  the  toxicologic  principles  associated  with  the  most  potentially  dangerous  plants.