Poisoning from eating belladonna
On August 22, a family of 5 in Ea Sup District, Dak Lak, after eating rice with belladonna for about 30 minutes, showed unusual symptoms such as fatigue, fever, vomiting, convulsions... so they were taken to the Ea Sup District Medical Center. After that, these patients were transferred to the Central Highlands General Hospital for emergency care and treatment.
Previously, in 2020, 3 people in a family in Lao Cai were also poisoned by eating boiled belladonna tips. About 30 minutes after eating, the 3 people mentioned above experienced symptoms of nausea, headache, dizziness, abdominal pain, numbness in limbs, tongue numbness, loss of motor control, and delirium, and were taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Or in 2015, a 38-year-old man in Nghe An picked some belladonna berries to boil and drink. After a few minutes, he was poisoned and hospitalized.
Belladonna contains the active ingredient scopolamine which can cause many side effects.
The active ingredient in belladonna can be fatal.
Dr. Nguyen Thanh Triet, pharmacist, deputy head of the Department of Traditional Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the main active ingredient in belladonna is scopolamine, a parasympathetic paralytic. It causes hallucinations, dry mouth, increased intraocular pressure, and temporary memory loss.
"The use of scopolamine is very dangerous if not used correctly or used in too large a quantity. It can cause serious side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of balance, heart rhythm disturbances, and in severe cases, death," Dr. Triet emphasized.
Belladonna leaves or flowers are also used by folk medicine to treat asthma (inhaled). However, Dr. Triet noted that when using Belladonna and scopolamine, attention should be paid to the dosage and must be under the guidance of a specialist.
Similarly, specialist 2 Huynh Tan Vu, Day Treatment Unit, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Facility 3, said that belladonna has a spicy taste, warm properties, and is poisonous. This plant is used to treat coughs, asthma, rheumatism, swollen legs, reduce ulcers in the stomach and intestines, treat hemorrhoids, seasickness, motion sickness...
However, its use must be supervised by a qualified physician. Because the chemical composition of the belladonna plant is mostly alkaloids, the main alkaloid is L-scopolamine (hyoscine), in addition to hyoscyamine, atropine, scopolamine. Therefore, belladonna poisoning is a manifestation of the pharmacological and chemical effects of the above alkaloids, with different symptoms.
Symptoms of poisoning depend largely on the dose of the drug. Low doses have mild symptoms such as slightly dry mouth and decreased sweating. Higher doses cause dilated pupils, hot, red, dry skin, hallucinations, delirium and coma.
In addition, symptoms also depend on the type of drug, such as scopolamine in belladonna, which often causes central nervous system symptoms such as disorientation, hallucinations, and delirium even at low doses.
"Diatomaria is a good oriental medicine that can cure many diseases. However, its toxins can cause serious health consequences. Therefore, you should not use datura without the guidance of an experienced doctor at a reputable medical facility," Dr. Vu advised.
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