Milkweed Poisoning - Symptoms, First Aid, Treatment, Consequences

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Euphorbia poisoning

Euphorbia (euphorbia) is an annual or perennial plant of the Euphorbia family. In total, there are about 2000 species, very diverse in shape, size, habitat, growing conditions. A common characteristic of Euphorbia is a white, viscous juice that resembles milk. A peculiarity of milkweed is that the juice in its stems and leaves is under pressure, therefore, if the integrity of the plant is violated, the juice comes out quickly and in large volume.

Source: depositphotos.com

In the middle lane, the most widespread are the euphorbia sungazer, cypress, vine, garden euphorbia, white-veined euphorbia, etc.

The chemical structure of milkweed is poorly understood, however, it has become widely used in folk and homeopathic medicine as an immunomodulatory, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antitumor agent. It is used in non-traditional therapy for oncological, gynecological, gastroenterological, nephrological, neurological diseases, immunodeficiency states, skin diseases.

The main medicinal raw materials are the herb and milkweed roots; tinctures, decoctions are made from the plant, and juice is used.

Despite the popularity of milkweed in folk treatment, it is necessary to remember about its extreme toxicity. The main danger is milky juice containing powerful toxins euphorbin and saponin, which have a local irritating and cauterizing effect.

How does milkweed poisoning occur?

If it gets on the skin and mucous membranes, it burns with milkweed juice, if the juice or parts of the plant gets inside - poisoning. The following situations can be dangerous:

• transplanting or pruning an ornamental home plant;
• work with weeds on the personal plot (some types of milkweed are weeds);
• independent preparation of medicinal products from milkweed or the use of handicraft products;
• eating the leaves or stems of the plant for food;
• playing with plant parts in children.

Symptoms of poisoning and burns with milkweed

If parts of a plant or juice are accidentally or intentionally ingested, severe toxic gastroenteritis develops, the symptoms of which are:

• headache, dizziness;
• pain and burning along the esophagus;
• intense abdominal pain;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• bloating.

Symptoms of poisoning appear 8-12 hours after drinking milkweed. Starting with a dyspeptic disorder, as the disease progresses, it becomes general. Against the background of vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration develops, manifested by severe weakness, dry mouth, thirst, lowering blood pressure, increased heart rate, alternating with a rare threadlike pulse.

When toxins are absorbed into the systemic circulation, toxic damage to the central nervous system occurs: convulsions, confusion, lethargy, disorientation, increased body temperature, in severe cases, coma may develop.

The plant is of great danger to persons suffering from allergic diseases, since it can cause severe reactions up to Quincke's edema. Its clinical manifestations are swelling of the soft tissues of the face, pharynx, difficulty breathing and swallowing. An allergic reaction in case of poisoning with milkweed juice can be lightning-fast.

When the milky juice gets on the skin, a violent local reaction develops. At the point of contact, the skin turns red, there is severe itching, burning, local edema, and rashes.

If milkweed juice splashed into the eyes, a sharp burning pain, swelling of the eyelids appears, visual acuity decreases, active lacrimation occurs, the conjunctiva becomes inflamed (becomes hyperemic, edematous), small-point ulceration may appear, sometimes it becomes impossible to open the affected eye. Perhaps the development of blindness, in severe cases, permanent.

When juice gets on the oral mucosa, hyperemia, numbness and swelling of the lips and tongue, profuse salivation, burning and perspiration in the throat occur.

Source: depositphotos.com

First aid for milkweed poisoning

When taking milkweed inside, you should:

• provide the victim with physical and psycho-emotional peace;
• take enterosorbents (Activated carbon 80-100 g of water suspension 2-3 times a day, Enterosgel 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day);
• take a saline laxative (magnesium sulfate);
• drink alkaline non-carbonated mineral water, milk or slimy drinks (barley water, jelly).

If milkweed juice gets on the skin, wash your hands several times with soap, smear with ointment with anesthesin or a remedy for burns, drink an antihistamine tablet (Suprastin, Claritin, Zirtek, Erius). Do not touch the mucous membranes with your hands soiled in milkweed juice.

If milky juice gets into your eyes: rinse your eyes with running water, chamomile decoction, drip drops with an antiallergic component (Dexamethasone, Maxidex, Allergodil), drink an antihistamine tablet (Suprastin, Claritin, Zirtek, Erius).

When is medical attention required?

Qualified medical attention is always needed when:

• taking parts of a plant or milky juice inside;
• intense skin reaction with intractable itching and swelling;
• the development of an allergic reaction;
• getting juice in the eyes.

Possible consequences

The consequences of milkweed poisoning can be:

• hepatic renal failure;
• erosive gastroduodenitis;
• heart failure;
• Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock;
• coma, death.

As a result of the ingestion of milky juice in the eyes, blindness can develop.

A skin burn with milkweed juice usually goes away without any consequences.

Prevention

To prevent milkweed poisoning, you must:

• take measures to prevent young children from coming into contact with milkweed;
• do not prepare yourself at home medicines containing milkweed juice, do not take homemade preparations of this plant;
• do not exceed the dosage and do not change the treatment regimen on your own when taking products containing parts or plant juice;
• carry out all garden work in personal protective equipment (gloves, glasses).

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!