Urtica ferox neuropathy

A 21-year-old student developed an acute, symmetrical, predominantly motor polyneuropathy within 48 h of walking through a patch of nettles (Urtica ferox). Two companions had similar but less severe symptoms. Nerve conduction studies demonstrated markedly reduced compound muscle action potentials and prolonged distal motor latencies. Recovery occurred over a period of a few weeks. This case demonstrates that cutaneous exposure to Urtica ferox can cause an acute polyneuropathy and that its stinging hairs contain an unidentified neurotoxin.