Antipotian centers receive between 40 and 60 calls per year in relation to lily of the valley
May 1, it is customary to pick, buy or Offer a touch of thrush that is found in the forest or in florists. These small bells symbolize the return of spring and beautiful days, and would bring happiness. But prudence, lily of the valley (of its scientific name Convallaria Majalis) is a plant that contains irritating substances for the digestive tract and toxic to the heart – saponosides and cardiotoxic heterosides – which can cause fatal poisoning in humans (and in animals). The antipotian centers would receive between 40 and 60 calls per year in relation to lily of the valley, particularly around May 1.
The poisoning is done by ingestion of parts of the plant: stems, leaves, berries (red berries that adorn the sheet in autumn) … All parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animals, and even water from the vase. Also, faded and dry lily of the valley remains toxic. The toxic dose is little known. Some milligrams of pure toxin are enough to cause a reaction, especially in children. Antipotian centers estimate that a large amount of thrush corresponds to the equivalent of 3 to 5 bays in adults or 1 or 2 in children (or 2 sheets or 2 stems) and this requires emergency management in hospital with cardiac monitoring. Young children are particularly at risk, adults with smell disorder and the elderly with cognitive disorders.
In the event of accidental ingestion, lily of the valley can cause:
- Digestive and abdominal pain
- Mouth irritation and hypersalivation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sometimes hemorrhagic diarrhea
In case of ingestion in large quantities (which is rare in humans): cardiovascular effects, hypotension And Slowness of heart rate (bradycardia). “Lily of the valley contains substances from the digital family. Digitalics are used in cardiology so the ingestion of thrush can have cardiac effects”, explained Dr. Jérôme Langrand, doctor at the Antipison Center in Paris, during a previous interview on toxic plants.
What to do in case of lily of the valley?
► In case of ingestion ofa small amount of plant :: Immediately contact the Antipotian center closest to you. The interlocutor, online, will assess the toxic exhibition and will indicate the procedure to follow. He may ask you for the name of the plant or its detailed description, the part of the plant that has been ingested (bay, flower, leaf, rod …), the quantity swallowed, time between ingestion and call or even the symptoms observed.
► In case of ingestion ofa large amount of plant (5 berries and more, 2 sheets or 2 stems and more): you have to go immediately in the nearest emergenciesOr call firefighters (by composing 18 or 112) or the SAMU (15) for support for Hospital with cardiac monitoring. Antidigital antibodies (Digidot®) or atropine against bradycardia can also be envisaged.
► In any case, be sure to keep altarplates out of the reach of children and animals. As a prevention, it is advisable to Never leave the water vase soiled on a tableespecially if the vase is a glass.
There is a real risk of confusion Between edible leaves of bears garlic (Allium ursinum) and those toxic lily of the valleywarns the Belgian anti -poison center on its website. To differentiate them: L‘bear garlic has a characteristic garlic smell, White flowers in the shape of a star and ends with a white bulb, elongated while the valley has two to three rigid leaves, on the same rod. The lily of the valley flowers do not exceed the leaves in height.
