Be careful not to ingest Christmas plants, especially hollies and mistletoes, which can be toxic, reminds ANSES.
- The small red balls of holly berries cause digestive upset.
- Mistletoe leaves are poisonous and can lead to heart disease.
- Pets can also be poisoned.
Every year many children make the mistake of ingesting holly berries, mistletoe or poinsettia which can cause serious symptoms. These Christmas and New Year’s decorations are poisonous plants, a reminded the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) on Tuesday.
The more we eat the worse it is
The end of the year is particularly prone to poisoning by these plants. Each year, poison control centers receive “between 60 and 80 calls for children under 15 who accidentally put holly berries in their mouths”including 40% during the holidays, specifies ANSES. The poinsettia, the plant with the fiery red leaves, is not serious for humans but is for animals.
Symptoms depend on the amount ingested. In question, the small red balls of the berries cause digestive disorders. If the child ingests more than one or two berries, the symptoms may be more severe and include heavy salivation, vomiting and persistent diarrhea, or even neurological symptoms such as drowsiness or seizures. ANSES also notes that this toxicity also affects animals, in particular pets such as cats and dogs.
Mistletoe can be deadly to pets
Mistletoe is also poisonous and while kissing under it is good, it is best not to eat it. Unlike hollies, the leaves are more poisonous than its white berries. “Poison control centers receive about 40 calls a year for ingestions, three-quarters of which between November and January”, adds ANSES. The consequences of its ingestion can be even more serious than with holly since they can lead to heart problems if a large quantity is ingested. It can even be deadly to pets.
If a child inadvertently ingests one of these plants, certain precautions should be taken. It is necessary to make sure that he does not drink anything so that the poison does not enter the body. Rinse his mouth out with a damp cloth and contact the poison control center. If a pet is concerned, ANSES recommends calling the veterinary poison control centre.
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