[Datura stramonium poisoning: the diagnosis is clinical, treatment is symptomatic].
F Roblot, L Montaz, M Delcoustal, E Gaboriau, J J Chavagnat, G Morichaud, O Pourrat, M Scepi, D Patte
La Revue de medecine interne 1995 DOI: 10.1016/0248-8663(96)80689-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | The authors report that Datura stramonium ingestion causes severe anticholinergic toxicity with hallucinations and mydriasis, that prognosis was good in this series, and that patients always required hospitalization for agitated behavior, with symptomatic treatment proving effective. They advise clinicians to consider jimson weed abuse to avoid excessive investigations. |
Abstract
Datura stramonium is a hallucinogenic plant found in urban or rural areas. It contains three main toxic alkaloids: atropine, scopolamine, and hyosciamine. Consumption of any part of the plant can result in severe anticholinergic toxicity. Clinical symptoms are those seen in atropine poisoning, particularly hallucinations and mydriasis. Prognostic is good in this study. Patients always require hospitalisation because of agitated behavior. Symptomatic treatment is efficient. Clinicians should be aware of the potential abuse of botanicals such as jimson weed to avoid excessive investigations.