Some Plants Can Be Lethal to Children
Many parents of young children are careful to childproof their homes, but they often overlook a major cause of poisoning in youngsters--toxic plants. A surprising number of plants produce reactions when their leaves, flowers or fruit are eaten. Reactions range from skin rashes to death.
“We get approximately 2,500 calls a year about children who have ingested poisonous plants,” said Anthony Manoguerra, a pharmacist who is director of the San Diego Division of the California Poison Control System, which serves Orange County.
“While most of the poisonings aren’t potentially deadly, we have had life-threatening situations,” said Manoguerra. “Recently a child ate some castor beans, which cause vomiting and diarrhea to the point of severe dehydration. There was potential for liver damage, and the child had to be hospitalized.”
Plants such as Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia), Foxglove, English yew, Western Yew and tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca) are capable of producing severe poisoning in humans. Many of these plants can damage the heart and other major organs.
Most of the plant-related cases the Poison Control System gets calls on aren’t serious, but reactions can be severe and very uncomfortable for children, said Manoguerra.
“Eighty percent of the calls we get are regarding plants from the oxalate family,” said Manoguerra.
These plants cause irritation of the mucous membranes, pain or swelling of the mouth, lips and tongue and skin rashes, with symptoms lasting for about a day. Eating these plants usually isn’t fatal, unless there is enough swelling to obstruct breathing.
Plants that fall into the oxalate category include dieffenbachia, philodendron, elephant’s ear, caladium species, calla lily and nephthytis.
*
There are other categories of plants that cause skin rashes when plant sap comes in contact with skin. And many other types of plants also cause vomiting and diarrhea when eaten. Whether dehydration will occur depends on the type of plant and the amount ingested, Manoguerra said.
Oleander is one well-known poison plant that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in large amounts it can have an effect on the heart. However, it often isn’t a big problem, said Manoguerra.
“Fortunately oleander is very bitter, and most kids stop eating it, so they don’t ingest enough to cause much harm.”
Oleander may not be much of a problem with children, but it causes a great deal of trouble with puppies, says veterinarian Jeff Horner of Orange Veterinary Hospital.
“Puppies chew on oleander limbs and trunks for a couple of weeks and then collapse,” he said. “By the time I see them, it’s usually too late, because their hearts are completely shot. At one house there were two oleander poisonings. We were able to save the first puppy, but the second passed away.”
Another plant that Horner has seen cause death in animals is Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora ‘Floribunda’). “This plant causes seizures, and by the time I see the animals, the liver has been damaged beyond repair,” he said.
Horner, who specializes in dogs and cats, sees potentially deadly poisonings about once a month and on a weekly basis less dangerous poisonings causing vomiting, diarrhea and irritation to the mouth, throat and skin.
“A lot of people are surprised when their animals are poisoned by plants,” he said. “Although the incidence is low, it still happens. In response, I recently created a list of poisonous plants, and many clients have said it has really helped them.”
For humans, symptoms of having ingested a lethal plant include nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, lethargy and a drop in heart rate, usually occurring within 24 hours.
If you suspect that a child has eaten a potentially poisonous plant, call the poison control center at (800) 876-4766 immediately, Manoguerra said.
“Most children who have taken a small bite out of a harmful plant will be fine, but the poison control center should be the judge of that,” he says.
When you call, if you don’t know the name of the plant, have a leaf from the plant on hand so you can describe it for possible identification.
If the plant eaten is an oxalate, wipe out the mouth and give the child something to drink to alleviate the discomfort. Popsicles work well to reduce swelling and relieve irritation.
In animals, ingestion of a harmful plant can result in lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and drooling.
When you suspect that your pet has ingested a poisonous plant, time is of the essence, said Horner.
“Go into the vet with your animal and the suspected plant. Although we’re not botanists, seeing the plant can sometimes help us make an accurate diagnosis.”
Horner advises against owners inducing vomiting in dogs and cats, because none of the over-the-counter products work well or quickly enough. A vet can use an intravenous drug to make the animal vomit, or if necessary, pump your pet’s stomach.
To best protect animals and children from plant poisoning, remove poisonous plants from your landscape or at least fence them in so kids and pets can’t reach them.
“You might think you’ll keep the kids or a pet away from a poisonous plant, but accidents happen within seconds,” said Manoguerra. “It’s best to remove the plant.”
He suggests making a map of your yard, identifying all of the plants. When you run across a plant you can’t identify, take a snapshot or a cutting to a nursery that has certified nursery personnel and ask for assistance.
Before adding any plants to your yard, research them to make sure they aren’t toxic.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
Toxic Plants
Some plants have foliage, flowers or fruit that can be highly toxic when eaten. For a list of plants toxic to animals, call the Orange Veterinary Hospital at (714) 978-6260. Here’s a list of plants that are known to be deadly to humans:
* Angel’s Trumpet/Red Angel’s Trumpet (Brugmansia arborea/B. sanguinea)
* Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
* Death camas (Zigadenus venenosus)
* English yew (Taxus baccata)
* Common Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
* Jimson weed (Datura stramonium)
* Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum)
* Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)
* Rosary pea (Abrus precatorius)
* Tree tobacco (Nicotiana glauca)
* Western water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii)
* Western Yew (Taxus brevifolia)
*
There are many common plants that have foliage, flowers or fruit capable of producing a wide range of problems in humans, such as skin rashes, painful swelling of the mouth and vomiting and diarrhea.
If eaten in large quantities, some of the following plants may also cause more serious poisoning. This is not a complete list:
* Azalea
* Boston ivy
* Caladium
* Calla lily
* Chinaberry
* Daffodil
* Delphinium
* Dieffenbachia
* Elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta/Alocasia)
* English ivy
* Euphorbia
* Holly berries
* Hyacinth
* Hydrangea
* Iris
* Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum)
* Lantana camara
* Larkspur
* Lily-of-the-valley
* Lobelia
* Mistletoe
* Morning glory
* Narcissus
* Nephthytis
* Nicotiana sylvestris
* Night blooming jasmine/yellow jasmine (Cestrum species)
* Oleander
* Periwinkle
* Philodendron
* Potato sprouts and leaves
* Privet (Ligustrum)
* Rhododendron
* Rhubarb leaf
* Tobacco
* Tomato vines
* Wisteria
