Datura poisoning

The number of datura poisoning is becoming increasingly important in adolescents and addicts.

This plant also called grass crazy, angel's trumpet, devil's apple, is fairly common in France.

It is a plant that is found especially in the rubble but some ornamental varieties are also grown in gardens.

The leaves are triangular and serrated cut, solitary flowers are large with a serrated chalice which enshrines a white corolla flared funnel whose lobes ending in curved tip.

The fruit is a spiny capsule (like the fruit of the horse chestnut) which contains many seeds;

The young plant can be confused with spinach leaves with a parsnip and seeds with the poppy poppy.

The toxic compound is an alkaloid tropanique (scopolamine, hyoscyamine).

These are the seeds that are part of the most dangerous plants and usually ingested in cases of accidental poisoning when the fruits are ripe (July to October)

The toxic dose is 2 mmg alkaloid (a hundred seeds)

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms appear rapidly after ingestion

Dry mouth

muscle weakness, visual disturbances

and behavioral problems occur, temporo-spatial disorientation, Ataxia (see this term), aggressiveness, agitation.

There mydriasis (see this term) fever, redness of the face and neck, a fast heartbeat, sometimes visual or auditory hallucinations.

Symptoms s'amendent in one to two days.

Deaths associated with this poisoning are related to disturbed mental state (unconsciousness of danger).

TREATMENT

Moderate poisoning require support 48 hours to avoid reckless actions, especially before the 24 th hour.

Benzodiazepines are used to calm patients.

In case of risk of urinary retention, since the activity of the drug is that of an anticholinergic syndrome, insertion of a urinary catheter is recommended.