Citation

Glatstein M, Danino D, Wolyniez I, Scolnik D. Am. J. Ther. 2013; 21(6): e196-8.

Affiliation

1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Dana's Children Hospital, Tel-Aviv, Israel; 2Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ichilov Hospital, University of Tel Aviv, Tel-Aviv, Israel; 3Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and 4Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/MJT.0b013e3182785eb7

PMID

24105354

Abstract

Atropa belladonna is a poisonous plant that can cause anticholinergic effects when ingested. Roots, leaves, and fruits of the plant contain the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, which can lead to an anticholinergic toxidrome; however, not all characteristics of the toxidrome are necessarily present in each case of poisoning. We present an infant who suffered serious seizures after ingestion of a homeopathic agent containing A. belladonna. The 20-day-old infant arrived at the emergency department with fever and generalized seizures for 30 minutes, 2 hours after ingesting the correct dose of a homeopathic medication agent used for infantile colic. The patient was treated with intravenous benzodiazepines and antibiotics after a full sepsis work up; all the laboratory results were normal and the fever resolved after several hours. The infant recovered fully with normal neurological function and a normal electroencephalogram. This infant probably manifested what is known as the central anticholinergic syndrome. We discuss his presentation and review of the literature on this topic.

Language: en