Open AccessLiver failure secondary to poisoning by a homemade product made of star and green anise in a 4-month-old infant
Author(s) -
Pablo Obando-Pacheco,
Martínez-Martínez Pl,
Pérez de Eulate Bazán Y,
de la Mota Ybancos Jl,
Milano Manso G,
Sierra Salinas C
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
revista española de enfermedades digestivas/revista española de enfermedades digestivas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.331
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 2340-4167
pISSN - 1130-0108
DOI - 10.17235/reed.2016.3964/2015
Subject(s) - medicine , etiology , pediatrics , herb , hypoglycemia , anamnesis , intracranial haemorrhage , traditional medicine , surgery , insulin , medicinal herbs , neurosurgery
Intoxications in pediatric age represent a frequent cause of visit to the hospital emergency unit. Herb-made products can be toxic for the infant. The neurotoxic properties of the star anise (Illicium verum) have been widely described, although it is a classic product used to treat the infantile colic. Hepatic failure due to the consumption of anise herb elaborated infusions is presented as an exceptional finding in our environment. A case of a 4-month-old infant with hypertransaminasemia, severe coagulopathy, non ketotic hypoglycemia, moderated metabolic acidosis and neurologic symptoms such as seizures and nistagmus is described. After discarding infectious, metabolic and autoimmune etiology and through a meticulous anamnesis, the family referred having administered in the last two months a daily star anise and green anise (Pimpinella anisum) infusion to the patient. It is important to emphasize the serious risk of administering homemade herb infusions to infants.