Acute cyanide poisoning and challenges in the diagnosis

Objective: Cyanide that is known may be cause poisoning for centuries by mankind is a poison that can cause fatal intoxications in minutes, even in very small doses. We aimed to draw attention to acute cyanide poisoning which is may occur with the eating of apricot kernel including amygdalin as a cyanogenic glycoside. Method: Between September 2016 and October 2018, The data of the patients who were hospitalized and treated with a diagnosis of cyanide poisoning due to apricot seed were examined retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the patients was 39 months (23-65 months). 12 of the patients were male and 9 were female. 10 of all patients were native Turkish citizens and 11 of the patients were Syrian refugees. In the anamnesis of the patients, it was learned that they ate an average of 15 pieces (10-30) of raw apricots kernel. It was learned that the complaints of cases started at an average of 45 minutes (30-90 minutes) after eating the apricot kernel. Conclusion: It should be kept in mind that, acute cyanide poisoning is uncommon but it has a high potential for mortality when being suspected of cyanide poisoning based on the anamnesis and clinical features in the cases; immediately supported and specific treatment should be started.