$Unique_ID{BRK00902} $Pretitle{} $Title{Warning About the Dangers of Seasonal Plants at Christmas} $Subject{plant plants poison Christmas season accident Accidents Poisoning poisoning Holly Mistletoe berry berries Poinsettia leaf leaves gastrointestinal narcosis heart stomach washed stem milky sap skin rash lifestyle lifestyles home} $Volume{O-23} $Log{} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Warning About the Dangers of Seasonal Plants at Christmas ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: With Christmas soon upon us, shouldn't you be warning your readers about the dangers of the plants that go with the season. We nearly lost my brother, when as a child, he ate some of the berries off our holly decorations. You would be performing a real public service by telling people about this. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: With an eye on the calendar, your suggestion is a timely one, as well as important. The National Clearinghouse for Poison Control Centers identified plants as the leading cause of poisonings in children under five years of age. In fact, plants were responsible for an amazing 11% of all toxic reactions to swallowed or eaten materials. The good news is that the few children had to be hospitalized and none died. But precaution is the watchword, for death may result from serious poisonings. Three plants are linked to the traditional Christmas celebrations, and all three have dangers. They are Holly, Mistletoe and Poinsettia. For the holly and mistletoe it is the berries that carry the danger. The berries of the holly provoke gastrointestinal distress and narcosis, while mistletoe berries also react on the GI system, plus slowing down the heart. In both cases it may be necessary to have the stomach washed out depending upon the severity of the symptoms. If more than 4 hours have passed between the ingestion and discovery, and no symptoms have developed, you are probably safe. Poinsettia leaves, stem and milky sap may, in rare cases, cause a skin rash on contact, and GI symptoms when swallowed. Gastric washing is only indicated when large amounts have been eaten. The holiday health tip; enjoy the beauty of these holiday plants but keep them away from children. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.