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Case Reports
. 2012 May-Jun;32(3):315-7.
doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2012.315.

Ricin poisoning causing death after ingestion of herbal medicine

Abdullah S Assiri  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ricin poisoning causing death after ingestion of herbal medicine

Abdullah S Assiri. Ann Saudi Med. 2012 May-Jun.

Abstract

Ricin intoxication is a fatal and an uncommon medical condition. We report a case of ricin poisoning in a 42-year-old Saudi male patient who ingested a herbal medicine mixture containing ricin bean powder, after which he presented with gastrointestinal symptoms followed by gastrointestinal bleeding and hypotension. The patient then passed into a state of shock with respiratory failure followed by cardiac arrest and death. Public health awareness of self-prescribed herbal medications is necessary.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a. Castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), b. castor beans.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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