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Dieffenbachia is a plant called a poison from Brazil because of its origin. It is an inconspicuous, beautiful plant that is an ornament in many Polish homes. Why is it dangerous, who should be especially careful about it, and what is diphenbachia poisoning?
Poisoning with diphenbachia – a brief description of a dangerous plant
The appearance of difenbachia is well known to many people, it may even be in a pot in a given house. However, not everyone knows about the dangers of diphenbachia poisoning.
This plant can be recognized by its green elliptical leaves with a pointed tip. Usually the color of the leaves is not uniform, as they often have light green or yellow spots. Dieffenbachia functions as a common indoor plant and is usually 0,8-1,2 m tall. Due to its size, it is a very nice decoration and many people decide to put it in a pot, but you should be especially careful then. Below, we present the most important precautions that will allow you to enjoy a nice plant in your home without exposing yourself, family members and pets to diphenbachia poisoning.
It is also worth explaining the mysterious name of this plant. The name “Diffenbachia” refers directly to the person of the famous and respected imperial gardener from Austria – Joseph Diffenbachia. Interestingly, the poisonous properties of diphenbachia have been known for a long time. An interesting fact is that during the times of slavery, inconvenient witnesses were “silenced” with the help of this plant, because diphenbachia poisoning is associated with tiring symptoms. They often make it impossible to speak freely due to irritation of the pharyngeal mucosa and vocal cords.
Read also: Healthy plants – which are worth having at home and why?
Poisoning with diphenbachia – symptoms of intoxication
Diffenbachia juice has a poisonous effect that is dangerous not only to humans, but also to animals. Getting the juice in the eyes or mouth can irritate the throat, swelling in the throat, leading to difficulty speaking and breathing. Additionally, there are discomforts in the work of the digestive system. Most often, patients experience nausea, diarrhea and general malaise.
Getting the juice in the eyes can irritate the eyes, leading to photophobia, tearing and pain in the eyelids. Patients may also complain of itching, burning of the skin, as well as blistering and various types of inflammation.
Diphenbachia poisoning is also dangerous for animals due to the presence of insoluble calcium oxalates and oxalic acids in the plant. They are dangerous to pets and can cause similar symptoms to humans, especially pain, swelling in the airways, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. Animals may also salivate excessively and lose their appetite due to malaise and pain.
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Diphenbachia poisoning – who is particularly at risk?
Due to the fact that diphenbachia is a fairly tall potted plant, the most popular place to store it is a pot placed on the floor. This is a big mistake, because standing poisonous plants are especially dangerous for children and animals.
Dieffenbachia should be kept out of the reach of children and pets as they cannot always be controlled. One careless move is enough for a pet or a child to reach for a difenbachia leaf and thus expose themselves to the danger of poisoning.
Also check: Food poisoning symptoms
Poisoning with diphenbachia – precautions
Of course, it is best to prevent diphenbachia poisoning and make every effort not to endanger yourself. There are effective ways to do this. First of all, place the plant so that it is out of the reach of animals or children. It is also worth remembering about the precautions when caring for the plant. When caring for diphenbachia, use rubber gloves and make sure that the juice of the poisonous plant does not get into the eyes or mouth.
Sometimes it is necessary to replant the plant or cut the leaves – after each such procedure, wash your hands thoroughly and remember about it, do not touch your eyes or mouth with them. When in contact with diphenbachia, special care should be taken in injured areas, for example cuts or other skin lesions.
Poisoning with diphenbachia – treatment
However, if a person or an animal has come into contact with a poisonous plant, radical measures should be taken as soon as possible. It is diphenbachia juice that is so dangerous to humans and animals, so it is recommended that you wash your hands immediately. It happens that we touch our eyes with our hands and this is where the sap of a poisonous plant gets – then the eye must be quickly and thoroughly rinsed with lukewarm water. What if the diphenbachia juice enters the mouth? The best solution is to rinse your mouth with water or milk and then spit it out, being careful not to swallow the liquid.
If the above actions were performed too late or the condition of the animal or person raises any doubts, contact a doctor immediately. There are cases in which one of the solutions is gastric lavage and prompt medical intervention, during which a life-threatening condition will be excluded.
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