Clinical outcomes in children with hyoscyamus niger intoxication not receiving physostigmine therapy.

OBJECTIVE

Diagnosis of hyoscyamus niger intoxication is based on clinical symptomatology and history. Therapy includes stomach lavage, supportive therapy, and physostigmine as a specific antidote. Physostigmine is not available in Turkey. This retrospective study investigated the clinical outcomes in children with hyoscyamus niger intoxication who did not receive physostigmine therapy.

METHODS

Twenty-three children whose history and medical records indicated hyoscyamus niger intoxication were included the study.

RESULTS

None of the cases had any abnormal laboratory findings. All the patients were performed gastric lavage and provided with supportive therapy. None of the children had any complications, and none required mechanical ventilation or died. All the patients were discharged in good health within 48 h.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that hyoscyamus niger intoxication in children is self-terminating and responds to supportive therapy and that routine use of physostigmine is unnecessary in every case with hyoscyamus niger intoxication.