Is castor oil toxic?

Castor beans are poisonous, and the toxicity is very strong. For workers who pick castor beans, if they do not strictly follow the operating procedures, accidents are likely to occur. Castor oil is obtained by extracting castor seeds. Castor oil is widely used in the medical industry. You should also understand it when using it. If you have a history of castor oil disease, you cannot use this medicine for treatment.

Clinical manifestations

The incubation period for castor bean poisoning is long, ranging from 1 to 3 days, and most symptoms begin 3 to 24 hours after ingestion. The patients' clinical manifestations included throat irritation, burning sensation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. Fragments of castor bean husk may be seen in the stool. In severe cases, bloody stools, fever, dehydration and acidosis may occur, and central nervous system symptoms include headache, drowsiness, coma, convulsions, etc. People with liver and kidney damage may experience jaundice, proteinuria, hematuria and urinary retention. Coagulation and hemolysis may occur several days after poisoning. Death may occur about one week after poisoning, and the main causes of death are respiratory depression, heart failure or acute renal failure.

examine

Routine blood tests show that the red blood cell count and hemoglobin are lower than normal values; the fecal occult blood test may be positive; blood biochemistry may show abnormal liver and kidney function, electrolyte imbalance, metabolic acidosis, coagulation dysfunction, etc.

diagnosis

The clinical diagnosis can be made based on a history of ingestion of castor beans or castor oil and symptoms of poisoning. The agglutination reaction of ricin toxin on red blood cells is helpful for diagnosis. You can also place the residue on filter paper or a white porcelain plate and add 1 drop of nitric acid. The ricin toxin will turn blue-yellow.

treat

1. Immediately induce vomiting, gastric lavage and catharsis, and perform high-position enema if necessary, so that the remaining toxins in the body can be expelled as soon as possible.

2. Rehydrate and promote diuresis, and use hemoperfusion or plasma exchange to remove toxins absorbed by the body.

3. Short-term glucocorticoid shock therapy can help reduce organ damage.

4. Protect the liver and kidneys and prevent heart failure. When renal failure occurs, hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy is performed; when liver function is severely abnormal, artificial liver therapy is performed; when respiratory failure occurs, pre-assisted ventilation is performed.

5. Regularly monitor hemoglobin and coagulation function, and supplement blood components and coagulation factors when necessary.

6. Take rice soup and milk orally to protect the gastric mucosa, and keep warm.