Buttercup poisoning
Buttercup belongs to herbaceous plants of the buttercup family, it can be either one- or perennial, depending on the species, of which there are more than 400. About 40 species grow in the middle lane, but the most common are caustic buttercup, many-flowered, creeping, field, poisonous and water. The Latin name Ranúnculus (from rana - "frog") was given to buttercup because of the specifics of its habitat: near water bodies, on damp, wet, swampy soil.
Source: depositphotos.com
The appearance of the plant is quite characteristic: despite the fact that the height of the stem varies widely (from 15 to 100 cm), all buttercups have thin palmate leaves and small five-petal flowers of various shades of yellow or white, collected in semi-umbrellas.
Buttercup plants are bred for decorative purposes, used as medicinal raw materials. In folk medicine, buttercup-based remedies are used to treat inflammatory skin diseases, diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, joints, tuberculosis, eye diseases, as an analgesic agent.
When using buttercup for household and medicinal purposes, it is necessary to remember about the extreme toxicity of some of its species.
How does buttercup poisoning happen?
Health hazards are posed by: caustic buttercup (night blindness, goat), poisonous (scabby, feverish grass, abscess) and burning (pimple).
All parts of the buttercup are poisonous. The plant sap contains gamma-lactones: ranunculin and protoanemonin, which have a pronounced cauterizing and necrotic effect. Vapors of protoanemonin cause severe irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and larynx.
It is characteristic that when dried, the buttercup loses its toxic properties.
Poisoning occurs, as a rule, during gardening work and the preparation of medicinal raw materials without personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles). Plant sap, getting on the skin and mucous membranes, causes a chemical burn, can provoke the development of an allergic reaction.
Often, during the game, children eat buttercup, which leads to acute intoxication.
Poisoning in adults is possible in the case of ingestion of traditional medicine made with an excess of the dosage of the active substance or with improper intake of tincture, buttercup decoction.
The intake of toxins into the body also occurs when the aroma of plucked flowers is inhaled.
When using lotions, compresses based on buttercup juice, both local reactions directly at the site of application and general intoxication of the body are possible when toxic plant components are absorbed through damaged skin.
Poisoning symptoms
When buttercup juice gets on the skin or mucous membranes, local edema develops, hyperemia at the site of contact, burning, itching, skin rashes like urticaria, bubbles with transparent contents, prone to suppuration, may appear.
Once in the eyes, the juice causes a burning sensation, sharp pain in the eyes, a feeling of a foreign body, lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids, temporary loss of vision is possible.
In case of intoxication due to inhalation of the buttercup aroma, tickling and burning in the nasopharynx, active discharge from the nasal cavity, sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion are noted.
Ingesting infusions, decoctions, mixtures containing buttercup juice, you can get poisoning, the symptoms of which are:
- burning sensation in the mouth, pharynx, along the esophagus;
- pain in the epigastrium, in the abdomen;
- profuse salivation;
- nausea, vomiting and diarrhea with traces of blood;
- general manifestations of intoxication (headache, severe weakness, fever, increased heart rate).
With a high concentration of toxin absorbed into the systemic circulation, signs of damage to the central nervous system appear: tremor of the limbs, discoordination, confusion.
Source: depositphotos.com
First aid for poisoning with buttercup
First aid for burns with buttercup juice: rinse the affected area with plenty of water, gently blot with a soft cloth, apply an anti-burn agent (for example, Panthenol spray).
If buttercup juice gets into your eyes, rinse them abundantly with running water, then drip anti-inflammatory eye drops (for example, Diclofenac).
First aid measures for buttercup poisoning caused by ingestion of toxins:
- Psychoemotional and physical rest.
- Gastric lavage (drink 1-1.5 liters of a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a suspension of activated carbon and induce an emetic urge by pressing on the root of the tongue) to clean wash water.
- Saline laxative (magnesium sulfate).
- Reception of enterosorbent (Smecta, Enterosgel, activated carbon).
In case of an allergic reaction provoked by a buttercup, you should take an antihistamine tablet (Suprastin, Tavegil, Loratadin).
When is medical attention required?
You should seek medical help if:
- buttercup juice caused a chemical burn to the eyes;
- the child has suffered;
- after providing first aid, the condition does not improve or worsens;
- there are traces of blood in feces or vomit;
- poisoning was complicated by neurological symptoms;
- severe allergic reaction (in this case, an urgent call for an ambulance is required).
Possible consequences
Contact with protoanemonin on the skin and mucous membranes can cause a severe allergic reaction, up to Quincke's edema, sometimes of a fulminant nature, which is life-threatening.
Poisoning due to the consumption of buttercup juice inside can be complicated by acute gastroenteritis with a hemorrhagic component (bleeding from erosions and ulcerations of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines).
Prevention
To prevent buttercup poisoning, you must:
- all garden work and the preparation of medicinal raw materials should be carried out using personal protective equipment (glasses, garden gloves);
- explain to children the danger of eating buttercup by mouth or applying its juice to the skin and mucous membranes;
- in the case of self-production of alternative medicine products containing buttercup juice, strictly adhere to the recommended dosages;
- do not use products containing plant sap, with increased allergic readiness, individual reactions to herbal preparations in history.
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Olesya Smolnyakova Therapy, clinical pharmacology and pharmacotherapy About the author
Education: higher, 2004 (GOU VPO "Kursk State Medical University"), specialty "General Medicine", qualification "Doctor". 2008-2012 - Postgraduate student of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, KSMU, Candidate of Medical Sciences (2013, specialty "Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology"). 2014-2015 - professional retraining, specialty "Management in education", FSBEI HPE "KSU".
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!
