Abstract

A REVIEW ON MANAGEMENT OF COMMON OLEANDER AND YELLOW OLEANDER POISONING

Amrita Prasad, Krishnaveni K.*, Neha K.A., Neethu T.D., Shanmugasundaram R., Sambathkumar R.

ABSTRACT

Yellow oleander and common oleander are plants containing toxic cardiac glycosides which are lethal after ingestion. These plant poisonings are common in subtropical and tropical parts of the world. Plants with this self-poisoning effect are mostly seen in South Asian countries, particularly in Sri Lanka and India. All parts of this kind of plants contains cardiac glycosides which are toxic like nerifolin, thevetin A, thevetin B and oleandrin. The clinical expressions of both oleander poisonings are similar (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hyperkalemia and dysrhythmia). The clinical management in both common and yellow oleander poisoning includes administration of activated charcoal and supportive care. Digoxin specific Fab fragments are considered as an antidote for acute poisoning by both varieties but economic status limits its use.

Keywords: Yellow oleander, common oleander, poisoning, management.