1. Plant poisoning outbreak in the western area of Cambodia, 2005.
- Author
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Tourdjman M, Srihawong R, Soy TK, Touch S, Hul S, Janssens B, Galliot-Guilley M, and Vong S
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Cambodia epidemiology, Child, Child, Preschool, Coma etiology, Death, Sudden etiology, Disease Outbreaks, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Plant Poisoning mortality, Plant Poisoning physiopathology, Young Adult, Plant Poisoning epidemiology
- Abstract
An outbreak investigation was conducted during February-March 2005 to determine the cause of several sudden deaths occurring in Pailin Province, Cambodia. Sixty-seven patients presented with non-febrile poisoning-like symptoms and 15 died of coma, including 53% children under 10 years old. Symptoms included sore throat (92%), sore lips (73%), swollen tongue (54%) and gastrointestinal signs (41%). A plant locally called prik was the source of poisoning (97.0 vs. 28.7%, odds ratio 74.3, P<0.001). Patients may have confused the edible Melientha suavis Pierre with Urobotrya siamensis Hiepko, both from the Opiliaceae family. This was the first report of Urobotrya poisoning and its clinical manifestations.
- Published
- 2009
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