Acute respiratory failure due to Nicotiana glauca ingestion.

BACKGROUND

A variety of organisms produce potent toxins that impact human health through compromising respiratory function.

METHODS

We describe a rare case of abrupt respiratory failure afterNicotiana glaucaingestion in a previously healthy sixty years old female patient. She presented complaining for gait instability and malaise after ingestion of cooked leaves of the wild plant and two hours after the onset she developed respiratory failurefor which she was intubated and mechanically ventilated for two days. The patient fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Anabasine, the plant's main active ingredient, can cause severe systemic intoxication due to its nicotinic receptor agonist action with respiratory muscle paralysis being the main effect.