| Definition: |
Poisoning caused by consumption of plant material from the pokeweed plant.
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| Alternative Names: |
American Nightshade; Inkberry; Pigion Berry; Pokeberry
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| Poisonous Ingredient: |
The highest concentration is found in the rootstock, next in the leaves and stems, and the smallest amount in the fruit. Cooked berries are edible. THOROUGHLY cooked leaves (COOKED TWICE IN SEPARATE WATERS) are edible. Roots should never be eaten.
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| Where Found: |
- various varieties of pokeweed
Note: this plant may have other names.
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| Symptoms: |
- body as a whole
- respiratory
- difficulty breathing
- slowed breathing
- gastrointestinal
- heart and blood vessels
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| Home Treatment: |
Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by Poison Control or by a physician.
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| Before Calling Emergency: |
Determine the following information:- the patient's age, weight, and condition
- the name of the plant and parts eaten
- the time it was swallowed
- the amount swallowed
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| Poison Control, or a local emergency number: |
They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Bring the plant with you to the emergency room for identification.
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| What to expect at the emergency room: |
Some or all of the following procedures may be performed on the patient:
- Induce vomiting.
- Use gastric lavage.
- Activated charcoal.
- Treat the symptoms.
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| Expectations (prognosis): |
Deaths have been reported. Improper cooking of leaves or eating some of the roots with the leaves can cause serious poisoning. Eating more than 10 uncooked berries can cause serious consequences in children.
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