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Abstract
Although the highly toxic nature of castor bean (Ricinus communis) is well recognized, reports of human toxicity in the English medical literature
are scarce. The potentially lethal doses reported for children and adults are three
beans and four to eight beans respectively. Recent experience with two cases provides
added insight into the expected course of toxicity. In both cases, repeated vomiting,
diarrhea, and transiently elevated serum creatinine occurred. Dehydration was much
more pronounced in the second case. Both patients recovered uneventfully. Other reported
manifestations of castor bean toxicity, such as hepatic necrosis, renal failure, erythrocyte
hemolysis, convulsions, and shock, did not occur.
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References
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
November 20,
1985
Received:
November 7,
1985
Identification
Copyright
© 1986 Published by Elsevier Inc.
