Health Encyclopedia

Home | List of Topics | General Medical Information | Poisons

Lily-of-the-valley

Definition

This is poisoning from eating parts of the lily-of-the-valley plant.

Alternative Names

Liljekonvall

Poisonous Ingredient

• Convallarin
• Convallamarin

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Where Found

The fruit, leaves, flowers, and roots of the lily-of-the-valley plant.

Note: This list may not be all inclusive.

Symptoms

Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat

• Blurred vision
• Halos around objects (yellow, green, white)
• Excessive urination at night

Skin

• Rash
• Hives

Gastrointestinal

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting or nausea
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea

Heart and blood

• Irregular or slow heartbeat

Nervous system

• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Depression
• Headache
• Fainting
• Lethargy
• Disorientation
• Weakness

Note: Depression, loss of appetite, and halos are usually only seen in chronic overdose cases.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

• Patient's age, weight, and condition
• Name of the plant, if known  
• Time it was swallowed
• Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Bring the plant with you to the emergency room, if possible.

See National Poison Control Center.

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure, and heart function.

The patient may receive:

• EKG
• Medicines to treat symptoms
• Medicines to make the person throw up
• Medicine to reverse the effect of the poison
• Activated charcoal
• Laxative
• Blood tests to determine serum magnesium levels and serum potassium levels
• Treatment to correct electrolyte (potassium, magnesium) imbalances

Expectations (prognosis)

If the individual survives the first 24 hours their chances of survival are very good.

Review Date:3/21/2006
Reviewed By:Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.