• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.223-225
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• 2008

Rhododendron species is one of the largest and most diverse genera in the plant kingdom, comprising over 800 species and existing all over the globe. Grayanotoxin intoxication is caused by ingestion of honey and flowers. Grayanotoxin exists in honey, flowers, pollen, and nectar of the Rhododendron species. Grayanotoxin-intoxicated patients may present with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, hypotension, bradycardia, and syncope for several hours. We report a case of grayanotoxin intoxication associated with mental changes. A 9-year-old male presented with impaired consciousness and delirium 26 hours after eating about 10 rhododendron sclippenbachii flowers. A brain MRI and EEG were normal. Parenteral fluids were administered and these symptoms resolved completely in 17 hours.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2012

Honey is produced by bees from nectar collected from nearby flowers. Sometimes, honey produced from the Rhododendron species is contaminated by Grayanotoxin (GTX) in Nepal and other countries. There have been reports of GTX intoxication, also known as 'mad honey disease', from honey produced in countries other than Korea. The importation of wild honey has been prohibited by the Korean Food and Drug Administration since 2005, yet it is still distributed within Korea by the occasional tourist. We report a case of GTX intoxication from contaminated honey which included the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, general weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, hypotension and sinus bradycardia. By means of infusion with normal saline and atropine sulfate, the patient's condition fully recovered within 8 hours of hospital admission, and she was discharged without any complications.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2005

The plant Korean rosebay are members of the Ericaceae(Heath) family and may contain grayanotoxins, which exert toxic effects by binding to sodium channels in cell membranes. We had experience of 2 cases of Korean rose bay intoxication, who exposed to Rhododendron mucronulatum. Patients were presented to our ED with nausea and vomiting, hypotension, and dizziness or depressed mentation. The patients were performed monitoring and supportive treatment and were fully recovered within 48hours. Korean rose bay intoxication should be considered in patients with clinical evidence of gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac arrhythmias, and/or neurologic signs without identifiable causes, especially in spring or early summer.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.166-169
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• 2006

Poisonings caused by 'mad honey' are known to occur in response to grayanotoxins, which bind to sodium channels in the cell membrane, increasing membrane sodium permeability and preventing inactivation. Mild symptoms of mad honey intoxication are dizziness, weakness, hypersalivation, nausea, vomiting, and paresthesia. Severe intoxication, however, leads to serious cardiac manifestations such as atrioventricular block, dose-dependent hypotension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression. Atropine and vasoactive drugs improve symptoms of both bradycardia and respiratory rate depression. We report an unusual case of saliva-type hyperamylasemia in a mad honey poisoning patient who developed clinically significant bradycardia. She recovered fully within 3 days following atropine administration and medical treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.180-182
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• 2009

It is well known that Rhododendron sclippenbashii contains the toxic material grayanotoxin. So, Koreans do not eat it, but they do eat azalea although it contains grayanotoxin. That is why there have been no reports about Rhododendron sclippenbashii intoxication after ingesting it intentionally, not accidentally. In this case, the patient was admitted to the emergency room with several toxic symptoms after intentionally consuming 50 blossoms of Rhododendron sclippenbashii to get rid of thirst. Treatment with saline infusion and atropine was successful and the outcome was favorable enough in this case to produce a complete cure without any sequelae at discharge. But toxic symptoms were seen for 24 hours, although the symptoms usually fade in 9 hours. Therefore, we should carefully treat and observe, for over 24 hours, the patient who intentionally ingests about 50 blossoms of Rhododendron sclippenbashii.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.143-146
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• 2006

Historically, the common folk have made use of various wild herbs for both food and medicinal purposes. However, the misuse of these wild herbs can lead to adverse consequences, including severe poisoning in some cases. In cases of poisoning from wild herbs, patients can exhibit a variety of symptoms depending on the herbs involved, which in addition to gastrointestinal symptoms may include hemodynamic alteration and abnormal neurologic signs. In the present case, two patients were admitted to the emergency room with symptoms of toxicity after consuming Rhododendron brachycarpum liquor. Rhododendron brachycarpum and other wild herbs contain the toxic material grayanotoxin. Because of its serious toxic symptoms, great caution must be exercised in using rhododendrons for food and medicinal purposes.