Paediatric Poisoning Panic and Forensic Toxicologist

Poisoning forms a reasonable chunk of morbidity and mortality amongst cases referred to the hospitals in India. Such cases comprise almost all age groups in both genders, but it is always panicking when it is a paediatric patient suffering from any manner of poisoning; most commonly accidental. It is obvious that poisoning cases need more attention so as to check mortality. Poisoning in children by biological plants is not uncommon as children are attracted towards the plants and their colourful fruits while playing. These cases may produce severe symptoms and may prove fatal. We are presenting a case report of a 2½ year old female child who consumed seeds of some plant while playing and suffered with severe vomiting within short duration of its consumption. It created great panic amongst the relatives of the patient as well as treating personnel as identity of the culprit seeds was not established; coupled with the fact that malnourished child was diagnosed to also suffer from some hematological disorder. Present case is a good example of multidisciplinary approach of a poisoning condition of clinical nature and hence discussed in detail.