[Datura stramonium poisoning--a new problem in children and young people's toxicomania in Poland].

The aim of the study was to show the growing problem of poisoning with easily accessible shrub Datura stramonium among children and young people. 21 children with the symptoms of poisoning with this plant were treated in The Silesian Centre for Children's Diseases in Zabrze in the years 1999-2001. The majority of patients were boys (18 cases) at the age between 15-17 years (15). These were intentional consumptions except for one case of a 3-year-old boy. Cumulative poisoning was also present. The patients came mainly from full families with 2 children where either both parents were unemployed or only one of them worked. In most cases hospitalisation was initiated in the first 12 hours after ingesting the plant. On admission consciousness limitation (15), psychomotor agitation (11), mumbling speech (11), visual hallucinations (7) and aggression (6) were noted. The symptoms subsided quickly, however, only in one patient agitation and limited logical contact were still present for 2 days. Physical examination showed dilated pupils (20), dryness of mucous membrane (10) and skin redness. Toxicological examination confirming poisoning was carried out in 4 cases. It included one child out of 6 belonging to the group of cumulative poisoning. In the remaining children the diagnosis was based on taking a history and clinical picture. Treatment was based mainly on intravenous hydration. 8 children required hydration in the second day of hospitalisation and 2 in the next 2 days. One child was treated in the Intensive Care Unit. The average hospitalisation period was 3.8 days.