Severe cyanide poisoning from an alternative medicine treatment with amygdalin and apricot kernels in a 4-year-old child
| Autor: | Harald Sauer, Ludwig Gortner, Sascha Meyer, Caroline Wollny, Isabel Oster, Erol Tutdibi, Sven Gottschling |
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| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: |
Complementary Therapies
Male Pediatrics medicine.medical_specialty Prunus armeniaca Cyanide Amygdalin Iatrogenic Disease Encephalopathy Thiosulfates Administration Oral Apricot kernel chemistry.chemical_compound Nitriles Humans Medicine Brain Diseases Cyanides Traditional medicine Brain Neoplasms business.industry Glasgow Coma Scale General Medicine Emergency department medicine.disease chemistry Ependymoma Child Preschool Lactic acidosis Seeds Cyanide poisoning Administration Intravenous business Phytotherapy |
| Zdroj: | Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift. 165:185-188 |
| ISSN: | 1563-258X 0043-5341 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10354-014-0340-7 |
| Popis: | The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread in children with cancer and is poorly regulated. Case report. We describe a case of severe cyanide poisoning arising from CAM use. A severely agitated, encephalopathic, unresponsive 4-year-old boy (initial Glasgow Coma Scale of 3) with a history of metastatic ependymoma was brought to our emergency department by ambulance services. Initial blood gas analysis demonstrated severe metabolic/lactic acidosis. On detailed questioning of the parents, the use of CAM including intravenous and oral “vitamin B 17” (amygdalin) and oral apricot kernel was reported. After administering sodium thiosulfate, rapid improvement in his medical condition with complete recovery without need for further intensive care treatment was seen. Serum cyanide level was markedly elevated. Cyanide poisoning can be the cause of severe encephalopathy in children receiving CAM treatment with substances containing cyanogenic glycosides. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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