Register or Login
  Search
  
You are here: Home > Health A to Z > Jimsonweed

Health A to Z

 


Jimsonweed

Definition
Home Treatment
Alternative Names
Before Calling Emergency
Poisonous Ingredient
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
Where Found
What to expect at the emergency room
Symptoms
Expectations (prognosis)


 Definition  

This is poisoning from sucking the juice or eating the seeds from a jimsonweed plant. You can also be poisoned by drinking tea made from the leaves.

Jimsonweed is known as Jamestown weed, thorn apple, stinkweed, Datura, and moonflower.

 Alternative Names  

Angel's trumpet; Devil's weed; Thorn apple; Tolguacha

 Poisonous Ingredient  

  • Hyoscyamine
  • Atropine
  • Hyoscine (scopolamine)
Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

 Where Found  

The poison is found in all parts of the plant, especially the leaves and seeds.

 Symptoms  

Bladder and kidneys

  • Little to no urine production (Urine retention)

Eyes, ears, nose, throat, and mouth

  • Blurred vision
  • Dry mouth
  • Dilated pupils

Skin

  • Red skin

Gastrointestinal

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Heart and blood

  • Rapid pulse
  • Elevated blood pressure

Nervous system

  • Hallucinations
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Convulsions
  • Delirium
  • Coma
  • Death

Whole Body

  • Fever
  • Thirst

 Home Treatment  

Do not make the person throw up unless told to do so by a doctor or Poison Control.

 Before Calling Emergency  

Determine the following information:

  • Patient's age, weight, and condition
  • Name of the plant
  • Time it was swallowed
  • Amount swallowed

 Poison Control, or a local emergency number  

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bring the plant with you to the emergency room, if possible.

See National Poison Control Center.

 What to expect at the emergency room  

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

The patient may receive:

  • Medicines to treat symptoms
  • Medicines to make the person throw up
  • Medicines to reverse the effects of the poison
  • Activated charcoal
  • Laxative
  • A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage)   

 Expectations (prognosis)  

Symptoms last for 1-3 days and usually require hospitalization. Death is unlikely.

How well a patient does depends on how much of the poison was swallowed, their age, and how quickly treatment was received.

Review date: 3/21/2006

Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.


Home | Medical Info | Cool Tools
Who We Are | Editorial Guidelines | Contact Us | FAQ | Registration | Privacy

All contents copyright © Consumer Health Interactive, a division of Caremark, L.L.C. All rights reserved. Consumer Health Interactive makes this Web site available free to users for the sole purposes of providing educational information on health-related issues and providing access to health-related resources. This Web site's health-related information and resources are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or for the care that patients receive from their physicians. Please review the Terms of Use before using this Web site. Your use of this Web site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

This Web site was produced by
CAREMARK

We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here.
URAC Health Web Site Accreditation Seal Editorial Team Medical Review Board
Medical Review Board and Editorial Team

-