Question

An 11-year-old boy was brought to the ER by some of his friends because he started going crazy after eating seeds from a plant while trying to get high. The boy was incoherent; his skin was hot and dry. His pupils were dilated and unresponsive to light. Blood pressure was 180/105, pulse 150, and rectal temp 40°C. The presumptive diagnosis was drug toxicity due to the ingestion of a compound similar to

A. cannabis
B. digoxin
C. mescaline
D. phencyclidine
E. scopolamine

Answer 1

The 11-year-old boy's symptoms are indicative of anticholinergic syndrome, likely due to ingesting scopolamine from plant seeds, matching his clinical presentation exhibited in the emergency room.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described involves a 11-year-old boy who is experiencing severe symptoms of drug toxicity after ingesting plant seeds. The symptoms which include incoherence, hot and dry skin, dilated and unresponsive pupils, elevated blood pressure, rapid pulse, and high fever, are consistent with anticholinergic syndrome, suggesting an anticholinergic toxic compound ingestion. Comparing the options provided, the most likely compound responsible for these symptoms is scopolamine, which is known to cause symptoms such as hallucinations, dilated pupils, restlessness, tachycardia (fast heart rate), seizures, vomiting, hypertension (high blood pressure), and ataxia, as mentioned in the excerpt about Henbane, which contains scopolamine.

Therefore, among the provided options, scopolamine (E) is the closest match to the clinical presentation described. Considering the relevant information provided, it is imperative to recognize the signs of anticholinergic toxicity and identify correct toxicological origins in emergency medicine, as appropriate and prompt treatment is crucial.