Belladonna poisoning
Belladonna (lat. Atropa belladónna) is a widespread poisonous plant of the Solanaceae family. The name "bella donna" in translation means "beautiful lady", and in Russia she has been known for a long time as a belladonna. The plant received such a name not for its beauty, it is rather inconspicuous, but for its ability to give shine to the eyes and blush to the cheeks, which was actively used by beauties in the old days. Other names for belladonna are mad berry, mad cherry, rabies, wolf berry (this is a collective name, the fruits of several other plants are called wolf berries).
Belladonna is widely used in both traditional and official medicine.
Source: depositphotos.com
How does belladonna poisoning happen?
The main active ingredient of belladonna is atropine - an alkaloid, a blocker of choline receptors (M-anticholinergic), which has a depressing effect on the parasympathetic nervous system.
You can get poisoned both by the plant itself (all its parts) and by the medications it is part of.
Poisoning occurs for the following reasons:
- The use of belladonna for the preparation of homemade medicines (infusions, juice, decoctions, ointments, etc.) - poisoning can occur both during the preparation of drugs according to folk recipes and as a result of their use;
- Eating berries - this type of poisoning is typical for children, who often confuse belladonna with wild cherries;
- Overdose of drugs that include belladonna.
Belladonna poisoning symptoms
The first signs of poisoning appear 10-20 minutes after belladonna or its preparations enter the body. Depending on the dose received (the characteristics of the organism also matter), they can be more or less pronounced. In case of mild poisoning, psychophysical agitation and most of the symptoms from the parasympathetic nervous system disappear after 8-10 hours, after which the person feels exhausted and falls asleep. Severe poisoning with belladonna can be manifested by vascular collapse and the development of respiratory failure, up to coma and death.
Belladonna poisoning has the same characteristic features as atropine poisoning:
- dry mucous membranes;
- xerophthalmia (dry eyes);
- dilated pupils (mydriasis);
- blurred vision, deterioration in near vision, photophobia;
- thirst;
- hoarseness of the voice;
- dysphagia (swallowing disorder);
- feeling of a lump in the throat;
- dry skin;
- redness of the face;
- increased blood pressure (hypertension);
- hot flashes;
- tachycardia, arrhythmia;
- delay in urination;
- fever.
In addition to the symptoms caused by the suppression of the parasympathetic nervous system, with belladonna poisoning, there are also signs of damage to the central nervous system, the so-called toxic psychosis:
- irritability, sometimes aggression;
- motor and emotional excitement;
- disorder of coordination;
- disorientation;
- confused consciousness;
- manic syndrome;
- hallucinations;
- delirium.
Source: depositphotos.com
First aid for poisoning with belladonna
In case of poisoning with belladonna or suspicion of it, you must call an ambulance, then take the following measures:
- induce vomiting. To do this, drink a salt solution (1 tsp salt per 1 liter of water), a weak solution of potassium permanganate (dissolve a few crystals in 1 liter of water to obtain a light pink solution), weak tea or 4-6 glasses of water at room temperature, then press on the root of the tongue;
- take a suspension of activated carbon (crush 10-15 tablets and stir in a glass of water);
- with strong arousal, take Corvalol or Valocordin;
- for fever, a cold towel on your head, wiping with a cool damp towel, or wrap with a damp sheet.
When is medical attention required?
Medical intervention is required in all cases of belladonna poisoning, since only a doctor can assess the severity of the condition, the need for emergency medical care and its volume.
Treatment is carried out in a hospital, where the patient is washed with a probe, an antidote is administered, and mental agitation is eliminated. To combat respiratory failure, the oxygen mixture is allowed to inhale through a mask to those patients who breathe on their own, and if the respiratory function is impaired, the victim is connected to a ventilator.
For a minimum of 7 days, complete rest and bed rest are prescribed.
Possible consequences
Belladonna poisoning of mild and moderate severity usually goes away without any serious consequences for the body if assistance is provided in a timely and adequate manner. Recovery takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Severe poisoning can lead to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and cardiovascular failure. In this case, the risk of death is high.
Prevention
Belladonna is one of the most poisonous plants. Despite the long tradition of using it in folk medicine, it is impossible to use it in any form without a medical prescription.
When taking belladonna preparations prescribed by your doctor, you should be careful with the dosage. It is forbidden to independently increase the dose and change the frequency of administration.
Children who are in places where belladonna grows should be sure to be informed that the plant is poisonous. They need to be aware of the inadmissibility of eating any wild berries without the knowledge of adults, and the possible consequences of violating this rule. Adults, not always having the opportunity to test a particular plant for edibility, should be guided by the principle of mushroom pickers: "not sure - throw it away."
It should be remembered: if you suspect poisoning, and even more so if poisoning with belladonna of any degree (even if it looks like a mild one), a person's life may depend on how quickly he seeks medical help.
Maria Kulkes Medical journalist About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov, specialty "General Medicine".
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
