II. Background
III. Mechanism
- Plant is coated in sharp, lancinating Calcium oxalate crystals (raphides)
- When the plant is bitten (most often by a child), the crystals lance the mucosa causing localized symptoms
IV. Symptoms
- Pain and swelling of mucosa on biting leaf
V. Signs
- Crying due to pain
- Drooling
- Anterior oropharyngeal swelling (esp. lips, Tongue)
- Tongue Pain may interfere with speaking
VI. Differential Diagnosis
- See Plant Toxicity
- Anaphylaxis
- Angioedema
VII. Management
- Airway Management as needed
- Case reports of posterior oropharyngeal involvement and need for Endotracheal Intubation
- Typically self limited and resolves in 20-30 minutes
- Treated symptomatically
- Cold milk
- Popsicles
VIII. References
- Claudius, Behar and Nordt in Herbert (2020) EM:Rap 20(9): 5-7
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Related Studies
| Definition (MSH) | A plant family of the order Arales, subclass Arecidae, class Liliopsida (monocot). Many members contain OXALIC ACID and calcium oxalate (OXALATES). |
| Concepts | Plant (T002) |
| MSH | D029064 |
| SnomedCT | 107629004 |
| English | Araceae, Family araceae - arum (organism), Family Araceae (organism), Family Araceae, Family araceae - arum, Family Araceae - arum, arum family, Arum family |
| Spanish | familia araceae - aro, familia Araceae (organismo), familia Araceae, yaro, familia araceae - aro (organismo), jaro, Araceae |
| Swedish | Araceae |
| Czech | árónovité, Araceae |
| Finnish | Araceae |
| Russian | AROIDNYE, ARONNIKOVYE, АРОИДНЫЕ, АРОННИКОВЫЕ |
| Japanese | ザゼンソウ属, ダルマソウ, デンシンラン, ホウライショウ属, 座禅草, ボタンウキクサ, サトイモ科, ザゼンソウ, モンステラ |
| Polish | Araceae |
| Norwegian | Myrkonglefamilien, Araceae |
| Italian | Aracee, Araceae |
| Portuguese | Flor-D'Água, Aráceas, Araceae |
| French | Araceae, Aracées |
| German | Araceae, Aronstabgewächse |
| Dutch | Araceae |
