2 children poisoned after family mistakenly picked daffodil leaves to cook porridge

When using chives to cook porridge to treat coughs for children, two families mistakenly used daffodil leaves, causing both children to be hospitalized for poisoning.

Doctors at the National Children's Hospital provided timely emergency care after a patient was poisoned by accidentally eating daffodil leaves - Photo: BVCC

The National Children's Hospital ( Hanoi ) admitted two 2-year-old children with abdominal pain and continuous vomiting due to narcissus poisoning.

The family of two children shared that they had mistaken daffodil leaves for chives, and used them to cook porridge to cure the children's cough.

After eating, both children developed gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomachache and continuous vomiting. Immediately after, the family realized the mistake and immediately took the children to the hospital.

At the emergency and anti-poison department of the National Children's Hospital, the children were admitted to monitor their vital functions and eliminate toxins from their bodies by gastric lavage combined with the use of activated charcoal to absorb toxins and act as a laxative.

Doctors also provided rehydration and electrolytes and performed tests to assess liver, kidney, and heart function to promptly detect complications. After more than a day of treatment, the health of the two children stabilized and they were safely discharged from the hospital.

Dr. Bui Tien Cong, Department of Emergency and Poison Control, National Children's Hospital, said that daffodils originated in Europe, China, and Japan. Recently, the plant was introduced to Vietnam.

The genus Narcissus includes about 40 species of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. Most daffodils are perennials. The leaves grow from bulbs in spring, flat leaves. The plant is 20cm -1.6m high depending on the species. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, yellow, white, pink, with six petals and a central pistil. Daffodils have bulbs like onions, the leaves are similar to garlic leaves but thinner.

All parts of the daffodil plant are poisonous, especially the bulbs. The plant contains Lycorine, an alkaloid that inhibits the enzyme cholinesterase, causing cholinergic symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, sweating, and slow heart rate.

If eaten in large quantities, daffodils can cause convulsions, circulatory and respiratory depression, and coma. In addition, daffodil bulbs contain oxalates, which can cause burns and irritation to the lips, tongue, and throat if swallowed.

Narcissus leaves and chives have similar shapes that can be easily confused - Photo: BVCC

Narcissus has bulbs like onions, leaves like garlic leaves but thinner so be careful with the elderly and children to avoid confusion.

In addition to daffodils, some other plants such as money tree and water yam can also cause burns and irritation to the mouth and throat when children eat them by mistake.

"Doctors recommend that parents carefully research information about indoor plants to ensure children's safety. Avoid planting or displaying poisonous plants in places where children are present. Keep them out of reach of children.

Parents and caregivers need to supervise children at all times to ensure their safety. In case a child accidentally eats daffodils or other poisonous plants, parents should not arbitrarily induce vomiting in the child; the child should be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility for examination and timely treatment," Dr. Cong advised.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/2-tre-ngo-doc-do-gia-dinh-hai-nham-la-hoa-thuy-tien-nau-chao-20241204102058135.htm