Potato - green tubers and sprouts

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Potato - green tubers and sprouts

Definition:

Poisoning caused by consumption of green tubers and/or new sprouts of the potato plant.

Alternative Names:

Solanum tuberosum

Poisonous Ingredient:

solanine (very toxic even in small quantities)

Where Found:

The toxin is found throughout the plant but especially in green potatoes and in the new sprouts. Never eat potatoes that are spoiled or green below the skin. Always throw away the sprouts.

Potatoes that are not green and have had any sprouts removed are safe to eat.

Symptoms:

body as a whole
- hypothermia (lower than normal body temperature)
- paralysis
- shock
- fever
respiratory
- slowed breathing
eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- dilated pupils
- vision changes
gastrointestinal
- stomach or abdominal pain
- vomiting
- diarrhea
heart and blood vessels:
- slow pulse
nervous system:
- headache
- delirium
- loss of sensation
- hallucinations

Home Treatment:

Call poison control.

Before Calling Emergency:

Determine the following information:

the patient's age, weight, and condition
the name of the product (ingredients and strengths if known)
the time it was swallowed
the amount swallowed

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.

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

Expectations (prognosis):

Death has been reported but is rare.

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