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- Title
Bitter lupine beans ingestion in a child: a disregarded cause of acute anticholinergic toxicity.
- Authors
Daverio, Marco; Cavicchiolo, Maria; Grotto, Paolo; Lonati, Davide; Cananzi, Mara; Da Dalt, Liviana
- Abstract
We describe the case of a 6-year-old girl brought to the emergency department for the sudden onset of anticholinergic syndrome after the ingestion of a few home-made partially debittered lupine beans. She complained of blurry vision, headache, photophobia and nausea. No specific treatment was needed, and the symptoms resolved about 12 h after the exposure. Lupine beans are a popular and worldwide-diffused food. The bitter variety is rich in alkaloids harbouring anticholinergic activity and thus requires a debittering process before lupines can be eaten. Only four cases of acute toxicity, due to the ingestion of incompletely detoxified bitter lupines, have been reported in children so far; notwithstanding the small amount of lupines ingested, three of these cases were lethal. Conclusion: Acute anticholinergic syndrome can arise after the consumption of a wide range of exogenous substances including partially debittered lupine beans. Paediatricians should be aware of bitter lupine toxicity, recognize possible cases of intoxication, ensure a prompt and appropriate supportive treatment and provide appropriate information about their danger.
- Subjects
PARASYMPATHOLYTIC agents; LUPINES; NAUSEA; ALKALOIDS; PEDIATRICIANS
- Publication
European Journal of Pediatrics, 2014, Vol 173, Issue 12, p1549
- ISSN
0340-6199
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00431-013-2088-2