Clinical Profile and Prognostic Indicators of Papaver Rhoeas Poisoning in Adults: A Retrospective Analysis from Türkiye

Aim:The corn poppy is often consumed as a herbal tea, believed to have various health benefits in traditional medicine; it is especially commonly consumed as food in Anatolia.The aim of this study is to assess the clinical features of patients who presented to the emergency department due to corn poppy poisoning, evaluate the duration of admission, lactate levels, and length of hospital stay, and investigate their effects on prognosis. Materials and Methods:This retrospective study included 15 patients divided into two groups: mildly symptomatic (n=8) and severely symptomatic (n=7).Gastrointestinal, neurological, and cardiac symptoms, latency time between ingestion and symptom onset, lactate levels, and hospitalization duration were compared.Inferential statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test for categorical variables, such as time to presentation category and hospital stay length category, due to the small sample size.The Mann-Whitney U test was applied for comparisons of symptom scores between groups.A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Severe cases exhibited frequent gastrointestinal and both mild and severe neurological symptoms, but no cardiac manifestations.In contrast, mild cases presented earlier, had lower lactate levels, and shorter hospital stays.Severe neurological symptoms and elevated lactate levels were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Conclusion:Corn poppy poisoning can present emergency services.This study also suggests that toxicity severity may not solely depend on the quantity ingested but also on the plant's developmental stage.Public and healthcare providers' awareness of the potential toxicity of traditionally used plants like Papaver rhoeas should be increased.